Following the Lamb of God (Sunday, Week 2, Year B)

 

We are right into the “Ordinary Time” of the Church’s Year. The color of this season is green. The color “green” suggests or symbolizes fertility, productivity and growth. What this symbolism communicates to us is that the “Ordinary Time” is not a time for relaxation or break from God’s work. In fact, it is a period of heightened productivity (more work) for greater growth. If you go to your farm after the planting season and see that everything has become green and lush, it does not mean that you should go home and relax. It is a sign that you should be ready for more work. The Green Color of this period may be a sign that the Lord is calling us for more work in His field. Today’s readings remind us that God is still calling to a mission, to a lifestyle, to a completely new life. But the quality of our response to God’s call is dependent on the quality of our relationship with Him. The question is: How can we respond better? 

Imagine the small boy Samuel, very inexperienced! Three times God called him; three times He did not perceive that it was God calling. At each time, he went to Eli. At the third time, Eli discerned and was able to perceive that God was calling the small boy. And he said to Samuel, “If He calls again, say ‘Speak Lord for your servant is listening’”. Who is your “Eli”? Does the person really qualify to be an “Eli” to you? No matter the level of our spiritual and professional attainment, each of us needs an Eli. Who is an “Eli”? An “Eli” is a guide, a counselor, a mentor; someone who is well qualified to journey with us in life, providing the proper direction and helping us to discern well. Samuel ran to Eli for direction. He didn’t go to any kind of person. Who do I go to for direction in my life's journey?

With the help of Eli, Samuel was able to know that God was calling and understand why He was calling. One factor worked in his favor: an open ear. At the third call, Eli told him to go back and keep an open ear. When Samuel heeded the instruction, God communicated His message. Keeping an open ear is all about cultivating a habit of attentiveness and silence. Prayer is a relationship that involves conversation or interaction with God. In such a relationship, the talking is not only reserved for one party. It is a two-person conversation. Often, what obtains is that we only do the talking and expect God to do the listening. How can such qualify to be a conversation or prayer? There is need for us to allow God speak sometimes. And we can hear Him better if we keep quiet and listen. Atmosphere of silence! Do we create such space? 

My dear friends, God still calls us! Jesus still calls us. But the quality of our response to His call is dependent on the quality of our relationship with Him. And our relationship with Him must have something to do with what we know about Him. How much do we know about God, about Jesus? In the Gospel, John turns the attention of his disciples to Jesus whom he describes as the Lamb of God. When they heard the word “LAMB” and quickly remembered what a lamb stands for, they left John the Baptist and followed Jesus. What is it about a lamb that made them take such a radical decision to follow Jesus? To every Jew, the mention of a “lamb” is always a reminder of what happened at the Passover night in Exodus 12: killing of lambs and smearing the people’s doorposts with the blood so that as the Lord passes through the land of Egypt, He will be guided by the sign of the blood not to strike down the firstborns in Jewish households (cf. Exod. 12:12-13). Upon hearing John the Baptist describe Jesus as the Lamb, the disciples of John the Baptist saw in Jesus another Passover Lamb: they saw in Jesus a Savior, a Messiah and a Redeemer who will shed His blood on the cross in order to save humanity from sin. Thus, they followed Him. The implication of following Him was clear to them; but they followed Him still.  

Responding to the call of Jesus the Lamb of God is making a choice to step into His footprints: the footprints of willing obedience and sacrifice. Responding to His call is choosing to do His will, not ours. And one consequence of such choice is living a completely new life, a life devoid of IMMORALITY as St Paul beautifully puts it in 1 Cor. 6:13-15.17-20. If we think we have found Jesus and have responded to His call, we must adopt a completely new lifestyle. But it does not end there. There's an added responsibility: the responsibility of introducing people to Him just as Andrew did for his brother Peter. Have my deeds and words convinced any person to follow Jesus more closely?