John 1: 35-42

The next day John was back at his post with two disciples, who were watching. He looked up, saw Jesus walking nearby, and said, “Here he is, God’s Passover Lamb.”

The two disciples heard him and went after Jesus. Jesus looked over his shoulder and said to them, “What are you after?”
They said, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?”

He replied, “Come along and see for yourself.”

They came, saw where he was living, and ended up staying with him for the day. It was late afternoon when this happened.

Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard John’s witness and followed Jesus. The first thing he did after finding where Jesus lived was find his own brother, Simon, telling him, “We’ve found the Messiah” (that is, “Christ”). He immediately led him to Jesus.

Jesus took one look up and said, “You’re John’s son, Simon? From now on your name is Cephas” (or Peter, which means “Rock”).

Gospel Reflection

John the Baptist continues to point his own followers towards Jesus, “the Lamb of God”. On this occasion Andrew and an un-named man follow Jesus until, sensing their proximity, he turns and starts a conversation with them. This is a classic scene of a call or a vocation. And having experienced the attraction of Jesus, Andrew goes and informs his brother Simon Peter, who then comes to meet Jesus. What follows, as we say, is history!

The author of a play takes great care with the first words spoken by the main protagonist. These words must grab our attention and they usually reveal something of that person’s character. Here we read the first words spoken by Jesus in the gospel of John. They are not a teaching, a precept, or a challenge (as we might expect), but a simple question: “What are you looking for?” or “What do you want?” Jesus asks about our desires so that he can respond to them.