Second Sunday of Ordinary Time/B
Massimo Palombella
In today’s Gospel (Jn 1:35-42) Jesus is referred to by John the Baptist as “the Lamb of God” and John the Baptist’s own disciples, encountering Jesus, ask him “where do you dwell”. It is the central question of our existence that could be expressed as ‘where do I find stability’, ‘where do I finally find home’, ‘where do I place my life so that it has meaning’.
Jesus’ answer is an invitation to follow him, to set out, to be challenged by what happens along the way. Indeed, if we are honest and true in our reading of our existence, we become capable of doing something by starting to do it. We mature in our identity by trusting and starting to move, to make choices, to compromise.
It is a subtle deception to think that we will marry, enter a seminary, go to a convent, accept that responsibility when we have the maturity, the capacity to do so. We will never do that, because we will only mature, only acquire the capacity by moving, by committing, by choosing, by compromising our lives.
Seeing where Jesus dwells is the fruit of a journey where we learn to know ourselves, to face our fears, to become both humble and strong, to become the people we can and should be. It is not an easy journey but, like the Magi who followed the star, in the end we will experience great joy, that joy that only makes life worth living and that no one can take away from us.
The communion antiphon for today’s celebration is taken from the first chapter of John’s Gospel (Jn 1:41, 42) with the following text:
“Dicit Andreas Simoni fratri suo:
Invenumus Messiam, qui dicitur Christus:
et adduxit eum ad Iesum.”
(Andrew said to his brother Simon:
“We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ);
and he led him to Jesus).
The attached music, in Gregorian Chant, is taken from the Gradual Triplex published in Solesmes in 1979.
The interpretation is by the Gloriae Dei Cantores conducted by Mary Berry. The music track can be found on the CD “A Celebration of Faith in His Name: The Beloved Son” published by Naxox of America in 2003.
A blessed Sunday and heartfelt greetings.
