Come, and you will see

+ Second Sunday after the Epiphany +
January 16, 2011
“Come and you will see!” John 1:39
By virtue of His coming to us, God makes it possible for us to experience His real love and presence in our lives and thus extend His invitation and promise to every generation. It is true: Come, and you will see!
1. Come and you will see where Jesus is staying
a. In the life-giving Word and holy Sacraments
b. In the communion of saints, mutual conversation and consolation of the brethren, life together in the church year, liturgy and hymns
Come and see - If those who know not the salvation of God would come at the command of Christ, they should soon see that with him is the fountain of life, and in his light they should see light. Reader, if thou art seriously inquiring where Christ dwelleth, take the following for answer: He dwells not in the tumult of worldly affairs, nor in profane assemblies, nor in worldly pleasures, nor in the place where drunkards proclaim their shame, nor in carelessness and indolence. But he is found in his temple, wherever two or three are gathered together in his name, in secret prayer, in self-denial, in fasting, in self-examination. He also dwells in the humble, contrite spirit, in the spirit of faith, of love, of forgiveness, of universal obedience; in a word, he dwells in the heaven of heavens, whither he graciously purposes to bring thee, if thou wilt come and learn of him, and receive the salvation which he has bought for thee by his own blood. (Clarke)


2. Come and you will see Jesus’ life and ministry
a. Fellowship with the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit – shows us the meaning of suffering and death, ultimate realities.
b. Teaching, absolving/healing – people won’t care about what you know until they know how much you care! “loving God and loving our community through simple acts of service”
But if it truly seems difficult and impossible to us that we can ever be converted from such a great multitude of sins because we are caught in their grasp, a temptation, as we described above, of evil and a sure obstacle to our salvation, let us recall and seriously consider how our Lord, while on this earth, restored sight to the blind, cured the paralytics, healed every sickness. He raised the dead, already decaying and disintegrating. He made the deaf to hear and drove out a legion of devils from one man and restored him to full mental health after such madness. How much more, therefore, will he not convert a soul that turns back to him, seeking from him mercy and in need of his help?
(Macarius ca. 390)
O divine fruit of the Virgin’s womb, may I love you in union with the holy mother of God. Fill my life with the obedience of St. Joseph and the missionary fervor of the shepherds so that the witness of my life may shine like the star that led the Magi to your manger.