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Commentary on the Gospel for Saturday, January 4, 2025
Come and See
Curiosity can take on different forms. It can be unhealthy, driven by the desire to uncover gossip or someone’s misfortune. But it can also be a motivation to seek goodness. For a faithful Jewish ear, hearing “This is the Lamb of God” could evoke not just curiosity but a living hope for salvation. The Passover lamb, the lamb whose blood on the doorpost saved the Israelites, symbolized and embodied the hope of all peoples. When John identifies Jesus as the Lamb of God, two of his disciples immediately set out to follow Him. They feel an irresistible call to pursue the one proclaimed as salvation.
We hear this phrase repeatedly in every Eucharist: “You take away the sins of the world”… “Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world”… “This is the Lamb of God; blessed are those called.” Sometimes, we may recite these words routinely, without fully grasping their immense impact.
John says he didn’t know Him. Of course, he knew Him—they were cousins. What he hadn’t recognized was the Lamb of God. Recognizing that salvation changes everything—it calls to discipleship, leaves a lasting mark, and transforms life. That’s why those who heard that call remembered the exact moment it happened (four in the afternoon). That’s why they set out. They weren’t merely curious to see what kind of eccentric person the eccentric John was talking about. It was a hope that moved them to action.
“What are you looking for?” Jesus asks them. Is it mere curiosity about where He lives, or are they expressing a deep desire to be with Him always? “Where are you staying?” could mean, “Who are you? What do you do? What is your world like? What is your Kingdom like?” They immediately want to remain in that Kingdom because they have found the Messiah.
“Come and see” isn’t just an invitation to look around; it’s a challenge to live in the justice and truth of Christ’s Kingdom. It’s a call to change one’s life. Entering Jesus’ house obliges and transforms.
It was four in the afternoon… What time is it for us? Where and how have we found where Christ dwells?