In this reflection on the readings for the Second Sunday of Ordinary Time (Year B), Jeff Cavins discusses the theme of God's call. He invites the listener to reflect on their own experiences of being called by God, and ponders how one can discern God's voice and understand the purpose of His call in their life.
Cavins begins by referring to the Old Testament reading of 1 Samuel 3, which tells the story of Samuel hearing God's call but initially mistaking it for a human voice. He highlights how we often overlook God's voice, mistaking it for our own thoughts or mere coincidences. Cavins suggests that in order to discern God's call, we need to position ourselves to listen not just within our own thoughts, but also in the words of others, in signs or even through media.
Moving to the New Testament reading of John 1, Cavins mentions how Jesus chooses His disciples and calls them not only to a relationship with Him but also to the mission of spreading the gospel. He observes the connection between Samuel and John through 1 Corinthians, which speaks of the Holy Spirit dwelling within our bodies. Cavins emphasizes that God's call comes from within us, as He speaks to us intimately and assigns us a mission.
Cavins underscores the fact that each person is called by God to follow Him, using the analogy of a rabbi calling disciples with the phrase "Lech acharai": Come, follow me. He encourages everyone to have made the decision to follow Jesus and stresses the importance of hearing God's voice in the smaller decisions of life, such as work, education, relationships, and financial choices. Reading the Bible through lectio divina, as Cavins explains, serves as a powerful way to tune oneself to the voice of God. He suggests that when God speaks to us, it should align with what we have been listening to in His Word.
In conclusion, Cavins encourages listeners that when they perceive God is calling them to something new or a specific task, they should not dismiss it as their own voice or mere information they encounter. Instead, he advises them to take a moment to ask if it is God speaking to them and, if so, to step out in obedience. This, according to Cavins, is how growth occurs and how one truly comes to know the voice of the Lord.
Passage Outline and Context
Before & After | Historical & Cultural
1st Reading: 1 Sm 3:3b-10, 19
A senior Hebrew priest and his young apprentice have an encounter with God. Even the senior takes a while to understand. The apprentice will become a leader of the nation. (Greg Warnusz)
OUTLINE
I. Eli, the priest, is lying down in his usual place. II. The Lord calls Samuel's name multiple times. III. Samuel thinks it is Eli calling him and runs to him. IV. Eli recognizes the voice as the Lord's and instructs Samuel to respond. V. Samuel grows and his words are esteemed throughout Israel.
What Happens Before
The passage of 1 Samuel 3:3b-10, 19 is part of the larger narrative of the calling of Samuel as a prophet in Israel. The story begins in chapter 1, with the account of Hannah, Samuel’s mother, who was barren but fervently prayed to God for a son. God answered her prayers and she gave birth to Samuel, whom she dedicated to serve the Lord at an early age.
After being weaned, Hannah brought Samuel to the house of the Lord in Shiloh, where he would serve under the high priest Eli. Eli had two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, who were also priests in the house of the Lord, but they were corrupt and did not follow the ways of the Lord. The people of Israel were also unfaithful and rebellious, and the word of the Lord was rare in those days.
What Happens After
After verse 19, where we see the outcome of the Lord’s revelation to Samuel. Samuel grew up. He became known as a prophet whom the Lord favored, and people from all over Israel came to him to hear the word of the Lord. The Lord’s revelation to Samuel brought about a revival of faith in Israel, as the people witnessed the fulfillment of the prophecy against the house of Eli.
Historical and Cultural Context
From a historical context, this passage takes place during the time of the judges in Israel, before the establishment of a monarchy. The people of Israel had recently conquered the land of Canaan and were still struggling with constant battles and threats from neighboring nations. The story of Samuel’s calling served as a reminder that the Lord was still with them and would continue to guide and protect them, as long as they remained faithful to him.
From a cultural context, we see the importance of signs and prophecies in the ancient Near East. The people of Israel looked to prophets like Samuel to receive guidance and direction from the Lord. This was also a time of transition for Israel, as the role of the judges was coming to an end, and a new era of leadership was about to begin with the establishment of a monarchy. The calling of Samuel signaled a shift in leadership and emphasized the importance of being faithful to God in this new era.
SOURCE: Content written in collaboration with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
2nd Reading: 1 Cor 6:13c-15a, 17-20
Ancient Corinth was both a bawdy seaport and a sophisticated center of religious and philosophical debate. To new Christian converts in Corinth, Paul describes a new morality and new reasons for observing it. (Greg Warnusz)
OUTLINE
I. Our bodies are not meant for sexual immorality. II. Our bodies should be used for the Lord, who will raise them up. III. Our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, and we should glorify God with them.
What Happens Before
The context leading up to this passage is in chapter 6, where Paul is addressing the issue of believers taking each other to court. He reprimands the believers for not settling their disputes within the church and bringing their conflicts before unbelievers to judge. Paul reminds them that as believers, they should have the wisdom and maturity to handle these matters among themselves.
In verse 9-11 of chapter 6, Paul lists a number of sins and reminds the believers that they have been washed, sanctified, and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is highlighting the fact that as believers, they have been saved and made new in Christ, and therefore they should not be living in sin
What Happens After
Paul continues his discussion on the issue of sexual immorality and relationships. He goes on to address marriage, divorce, and singleness in chapter 7, and then turns his focus to the issue of food sacrificed to idols in chapter 8. The common thread throughout these discussions is the importance of living a life that is pleasing to God and honoring him with our bodies.
Historical and Cultural Context
The city of Corinth was known for its decadence and immorality. It was a major center for trade and commerce, and this led to a diverse population with a variety of cultures and beliefs. The city was also known for its temples dedicated to various gods and goddesses, and sexual immorality was often associated with these temples and their worship practices.
SOURCE: Content written in collaboration with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
Gospel: Jn 1:35-42
The Evangelist John portrays the Baptist John turning over his disciples to Jesus. Jesus has extraordinary insight into the hearts of his new followers. (Greg Warnusz)
OUTLINE
I. John the Baptist points out Jesus as the Lamb of God. II. Two disciples start following Jesus. III. Jesus asks them what they are looking for. IV. They call Him Rabbi and inquire where He is staying. V. Jesus invites them to come and see. VI. One disciple, Andrew, brings his brother Simon to Jesus. VII. Jesus renames Simon as Peter.
What Happens Before
John 1:35-42 is part of the first chapter of the Gospel of John, which begins with the famous prologue that establishes Jesus as the Word of God who became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:1-18). This prologue also contrasts John the Baptist, who came as a witness to testify about the light (Jesus), with the belief and unbelief of the people who did not recognize and receive him (John 1:6-13).
John the Baptist had already testified about Jesus to some of his own disciples (John 1:19-34). This led to the interaction described in John 1:35-42, where some of John's disciples decided to follow Jesus after John pointed him out as the Lamb of God. This serves as a testimony to Jesus' identity as the Messiah, as testified by John the Baptist.
What Happens After
Overall, the context of John 1:35-42 sets up the beginning of Jesus ministry and the calling of his disciples. It also continues to establish Jesus identity as the promised Messiah through the testimony of John the Baptist and the belief of his first followers. This passage provides important historical and cultural context to the larger narrative of Jesus life and ministry as recorded in the Gospel of John.
Historical and Cultural Context
The historical context of this passage is set in first-century Palestine, during the time of Roman occupation. The Jewish people were awaiting the promised Messiah to come and deliver them from oppression, which is evident in the expectation of the people mentioned in John 1:19-25. John the Baptists ministry and message of repentance also fit into this historical context.
The cultural context of this passage is also significant. The mention of “Rabbi” (John 1:38) indicates that the people involved were Jewish. The social structure of the time was hierarchical and the presence of disciples who followed a teacher, such as John the Baptist, was common. The use of specific names like Simon, Andrew, and Cephas (Peter) indicates the high level of personal detail and the value placed on individual identity in Jewish culture.
SOURCE: Content written in collaboration with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
Explanation: In this passage, we see the initial encounter between Jesus and His disciples. John the Baptist, who is preparing the way for Jesus, points Him out as the Lamb of God. The disciples, Andrew and John, immediately leave John the Baptist and follow Jesus. This is the first call to discipleship – a call to leave behind our old ways and follow Jesus.
Illustration: Imagine seeing Jesus in person and being called to follow Him. How would you respond?
Application: We are also called to follow Jesus in our daily lives. This means leaving behind our worldly desires and dedicating ourselves to His teachings. It may not be easy, but through prayer and the sacraments, we can grow in our discipleship and become more like Christ.
Main Point 2: Jesus Invites Us into His Presence
Explanation: When Jesus saw the two disciples following Him, He turned around and asked them, “What do you want?” This shows how deeply Jesus cares for us and wants us to be in His presence. He invites us to come and see where He is staying – a foreshadowing of His invitation to come and stay in His kingdom.
Illustration: Just like the two disciples, Jesus invites us to come and see where He is staying. It is a personal and intimate invitation to be in His presence.
Application: As followers of Christ, we must respond to His invitation by making time to be with Him in prayer and through reading the Scriptures. This will deepen our relationship with Him and help us live out our discipleship.
Main Point 3: Bringing Others to Jesus
Explanation: The first thing Andrew did after encountering Jesus was to bring his brother, Simon, to meet Jesus. This shows us that when we encounter Jesus, we cannot keep it to ourselves. It compels us to share the Good News with others and bring them to Jesus.
Illustration: Just like Andrew, we are called to share the joy of encountering Jesus with others and inviting them to follow Him.
Application: We can do this by being good examples of discipleship and being open to sharing our faith with others. We can also invite them to Mass or a Bible study group or simply be there to answer their questions about Jesus.
Reference: NABRE (New American Bible, Revised Edition) Bible, USCCB (United States Conference of Catholic Bishops)
Together with God’s Word
by Kay Murdy
Kay Murdy
Together with God’s Word
KEY VERSE: “You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Cephas,” which is translated Peter (John 1:42).
2nd Sunday of Year B
TO KNOW: The day following Jesus’ baptism, John the Baptist observed Jesus coming toward him and he called him by the significant title, the “Lamb of God.” Just as the Passover lamb was sacrificed to liberate the Hebrew people from slavery, Jesus was the one who came to take away the world’s sins (Jn 1:29). Two of the Baptist’s disciples followed Jesus out of curiosity. Upon seeing the pair, Jesus invited them to follow him as his disciples. The new disciples addressed Jesus as their “Rabbi” (teacher), but they soon discovered that he was the “Messiah,” God’s anointed one (v.41). One of them, Andrew, brought his brother Simon to Jesus. Jesus changed Simon’s name to “Cephas,” meaning “rock” in the Aramaic language which Jesus spoke. Such a name was appropriate for a strong character like Simon. Changing a person’s name indicated a new relationship and function, and a designation of his leadership. He would be the rock, the foundation upon which Jesus would build his Church.
TO LOVE: Have I brought anyone to Jesus? What was the result? TO SERVE: Lord Jesus, help me to learn who you are as I walk with you daily.
1. What motivated the disciples of John to follow Jesus? Why didn’t John follow after the One he pointed others to?
2. In light of verses 30 and 31, how do you think John felt when his disciples left him for Jesus? In what ways are you called in humility to “decrease” so that Jesus can “increase”?
3. How do you picture Andrew and John’s first encounter with Jesus? Who was the first to speak? What tone of voice do you think he used?
4. How do you think Simon felt when Jesus changed his name to Kepha (meaning “Rock”)? What significant event did this early encounter anticipate (Matthew 16:13-19)?
5. What is your response to the Andrews of the world to “come and see” Jesus in the circumstances of your everyday life? How can you “stay with him” throughout the day?
6. Can you, like Andrew, say, “We have found the Messiah”? How or where have you found him? How can you further imitate Andrew to share the Lord?
1. Does God always call at the perfect time? Is there sometimes confusion in your life when you have discerned that God has called? It took Samuel three times to get it. Do you always recognize God’s call right away? For example, could things like forest fires be calls from God to do something about climate change?
SECOND READING
2. St. Paul asks, “do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you?” Are you always aware of the presence of the Holy Spirit? Name some promptings from the Spirit about how you can show reverence for the people in your life.
GOSPEL
3. Jesus asked, “What are you looking for?” How would you answer such a question? There is a second “loaded” question, this time from the disciples: “Where are you staying”? It could be restated, “where can we spend time with you?” When the disciples took time with Jesus, did they find what they were looking for, even if just by instinct? Would this work for you?
1. Eli helped Samuel to recognize the call of God. Who in your life has helped you hear or list
SECOND READING
2. Paul speaks of the body as a temple of the Holy Spirit. What are ways that the human body is desecrated today? What can help us to have a proper respect for the body—neither desecrating it or idolizing it?
GOSPEL
3. When did following Jesus become important in your life? Can you recall an event or series of events that led to a deeper following of Jesus?
4. What would you answer if Jesus turned to you and asked: What are you looking for?
