SHARING WHAT WE HAVE DISCOVERED

1st READING - 1 John 3:7-10

P S A L M - Psalm 98:1, 7-8, 9

GOSPEL - John 1:35-42

SABBATH

“Behold the Lamb of God,” John the Baptist said to Andrew and another disciple of John when he brought them before the presence of Jesus. After hearing those words, they started to follow Jesus. Since Andrew began to follow Jesus, we see him doing some very interesting things as His disciple. In John 1:42, we find Andrew bringing his brother Simon Peter to Jesus, this after initially proclaiming to him that  they have already found the Messiah. Next, we see him on top of a hill together with the other disciples. People were starting to mill around Jesus in hundreds and thousands. As it reached five thousand, not counting women and children, Jesus asked Philip, “Where are we to get food for all these people?” As Philip saw the impossibility of responding to the situation by saying, “Seven pounds worth of bread is not enough to give each of them a little to eat,” Andrew found a lad with five barley loaves and two fishes. Andrew brought the lad to Jesus (John 6:8-9), and the rest, as we say, is history. In John 12:20-22, we read, “There were certain Gentiles among those who went up so that they might worship on the feast day.” They went to Philip and requested that they be allowed to see Jesus. Philip relayed the request to Andrew and the two of them brought the Greeks’ request to Jesus. We see in Andrew the enthusiasm of a man who has  discovered something or someone so great that he cannot just keep it to himself. And so, he brings people to Jesus and shares Him with them. Here lies the greatness of this disciple who found perfect fulfillment by bringing people to the One whom he has discovered, the One he serves. That should also mark our own discipleship. We should not keep to ourselves the joy that we have in finding Christ. We need to bring more people to Him so that they, too, would discover what we have come to see as we “behold the Lamb of God.”Fr. Sandy V. Enhaynes   REFLECTION QUESTION: Identify at least five people whom you want to bring to Jesus. Start praying for their openness to receive Jesus and for your courage to share Him with them.   Lord Jesus, accompany me with Your Holy Spirit as I try to share You with others.