Reflection for Sunday January 14, Second Sunday in Ordinary Time: John 1:35-42

Gospel: John 1:35-42

John was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he said, "Behold, the Lamb of God." The two disciples heard what he said and followed Jesus. Jesus turned and saw them following him and said to them, "What are you looking for?" They said to him, "Rabbi" (which translated means Teacher), "where are you staying?" He said to them, "Come, and you will see." 

So they went and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day. It was about four in the afternoon. Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, was one of the two who heard John and followed Jesus. He first found his own brother Simon and told him, "We have found the Messiah," which is translated Christ. Then he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, "You are Simon the son of John; you will be called Cephas," which is translated Peter.

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Reflection:

What are you looking for in this world? Are you looking for popularity and riches? Are you looking for power and influence? What are you looking for? 

We look for so many things in this world to find our happiness and those things that would satisfy us. Only to find out later that it will not satisfy us, so we look again and again. And it seems that the looking for mantra seems endless. 

Why? Simply because we are often seeking the wrong things—things that cannot provide lasting satisfaction and contentment. For instance, can money, power, and other earthly pursuits truly satisfy us? These worldly things are incapable of providing the peace and contentment we seek.

In this Sunday’s gospel, Andrew and Simon Peter were looking for something that would not only give them peace, happiness and contentment. They were looking for something that would complete both of them and they found it in Jesus.  

Therefore, when Jesus saw the two of them, He said: "What are you looking for?" They said to him, "Rabbi" (which translated means Teacher), "where are you staying?" He said to them, "Come, and you will see." So they went and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day.  (John 1:38-39)  

If you're searching for that elusive peace, happiness and contentment, if you desire someone who will shield you from the worries of this world, look no further than Jesus. You will undoubtedly find Him if you earnestly seek Him. – Marino J. Dasmarinas