“The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples; and he looked at Jesus as he walked, and said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God!’ The two disciples heard him say (this), and they followed Jesus. Jesus turned, and saw them following, and said to them, ‘What are you looking for (Τί ζητεῖτε)?’ And they said to him, ‘Rabbi’ (which means Teacher), ‘where are you staying?’ He said to them, ‘Come and see.’ They came and saw where he was staying; and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. One of the two who heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.” (Jn 1: 35-40)
Andrew already had a great teacher, St. John the Baptist. But still, he hadn’t found what he was looking for. (Feel free to break into song, U2-fans.) And John the Baptist does what great teachers do, not clinging to “his” disciples but pointing them in the right direction, to follow their true vocation. Then, Christ greets them with the Big Question in their hearts, “What are you looking for?” – to which they have no real response, but another question. So they need to “come and see” more of and about this “Rabbi.” Note the subtlety of our Lord, Who greets these “seekers” not with a warm embrace, or assurances, e.g., “You’ve come to the right place!” or “Look no further!” – but with their own question: “What are you looking for?” And He lets them inquire further…, and the rest is history!
As New Calendar-people prepare to celebrate the great feast of the Transfiguration tomorrow, I’m thinking that this feast is once again an invitation to come over to “His place,” and to “come and see.” And in preparation for this feast, I think it’s helpful to hear the Lord ask us, once again, “What are you looking for?” Let me come over to “His place,” once again, – whether I’m able to be in church or not, and let me visit with Him in some heartfelt prayer, that I may not wander about on my own, but see the things God has to show me today. Thank You, Lord, for calling us, again and again, to “come and see.”
