REFLECTIONS TODAY
The Johannine tradition about the call of the first disciples is quite diverse from that of the Synoptic tradition. In the Synoptic Gospels, the first to follow Jesus are the four fishermen who are called as they ply their trade.
In John, the first two disciples are former followers of John the Baptist who follow Jesus when John points to Jesus as the Lamb of God. One of them is Andrew and his unnamed companion is probably the one to be referred to as the “Beloved Disciple.”
As his disciples leave him for Jesus, John the Baptist now feels that he has accomplished his mission to give witness to Jesus. Jesus must increase while he must decrease (Jn 3:30). John is the friend of the Bridegroom (Jesus), and he is happy to arrange the “marriage” of the Lord and his people. Another difference is the giving of the name Kephas (Hebrew for “Rock”) to Simon.
In Matthew, this happens after Simon confesses Jesus as the Messiah (16:18) while here in John, this is given when Simon is brought to Jesus by his brother Andrew.
Andrew is honored as the protokletos, the first to be called. He is also a model of one who introduces others to Jesus. Today, do we have that passionate desire to introduce Jesus to our friends and acquaintances?
First Reading • 1 Jn 3:7-10
Children, let no one deceive you. The person who acts in righteousness is righteous, just as he is righteous. Whoever sins belongs to the Devil, because the Devil has sinned from the beginning. Indeed, the Son of God was revealed to destroy the works of the Devil. No one who is begotten by God commits sin, because God’s seed remains in him; he cannot sin because he is begotten by God. In this way, the children of God and the children of the Devil are made plain; no one who fails to act in righteousness belongs to God, nor anyone who does not love his brother
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.
Source: “366 Days with the Lord 2024,” St. Paul’s, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.