The scripture readings today remind us that we all are called to be faithful followers of Jesus Christ. We are reminded that, as Christians, we are a called and chosen people, that we have received from Jesus the assurance of joy and eternal life that will be ours if we keep our faith in Him. We are reminded that without Christ, there can be no Christmas, and our Christmas celebrations would have been meaningless and without purpose.
In our first reading (1 John 3:7-10), we hear that the faithful people of God must always hold on to the faith that they have received. We hear that “the person who acts in righteousness is righteous, and whoever sins belongs to the Devil.” Even since the earliest days of the Church there have been those who have subverted and changed the teachings of Jesus to suit their own desires and wishes, their own ambitions and purposes, to be congruent with the values of their secular culture. We see that even today. We must be careful to avoid following those selfish, wicked, and unscrupulous people who seek to mislead and misguide us to go down the Devil’s paths.
In our Gospel passage today (John 1:35-42) we hear Jesus calling the first disciples. Two disciples of St. John the Baptist decided to follow Jesus when St. John himself told them that the One he had just baptized was the Lamb of God, the Holy One of God. One of those two was St. Andrew, whose brother was St. Peter. It is likely that St. Andrew also introduced Jesus to others of his fellow fishermen at the Sea of Galilee.
That was how Jesus called His first disciples, St. Andrew, his brother, St. Peter, as well as the two brothers, the sons of Zebedee, St. James and St. John (the author of both readings today). These four chose to follow the Lord, abandoning their fishing boats and nets, so that, in the words of the Lord, they might become the ‘fishers of men’. They devoted the rest of their lives to follow Jesus throughout His ministry and to bring His Good News to the whole world. Through the efforts and hard work of the Apostles and all those holy men and women who had devoted themselves to the Lord and to the works of evangelization, the love and truth of God has been delivered to many more people, who have been saved through Christ as well, including you and me.
As we reflect upon these words from the Sacred Scriptures, let us all reflect upon what our callings in life, as Christians, are. Each of us has been called to a specific mission by the Lord, who has bestowed upon us myriads of His various gifts, graces, blessings, talents and abilities. The Lord has called each of us to follow Him faithfully, not easily swayed by the falsehoods of the world, and by the temptations of worldly desires, ego, pride, and greed. As Christians, we have to hold onto the Lord closely and remain faithful to Him, just as the Apostles and the many other disciples of the Jesus have given their all in service to the Lord.
We are still in the midst of the Christmas season, and we can see how the world has mostly returned to its usual busy life and schedule. Christmas celebrations and joy, for most of our society, have already been forgotten. What happens now, just barely more than a week after Christmas Day, is even more telling of how many in the world, even amongst us Christians, have forgotten about Christ, and all that He had done for our sake, in bringing that new Hope and the assurance of eternal life to us. How about us? Have we done the same thing? Have we sidelined Jesus and now ignore Him in our lives, only remembering Him when we have need for Him?
I call upon us all to commit ourselves to a new life and existence in Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Savior, putting Him back at the center and as the focus of our lives. I call upon us all to remember the faith that the Lord’s Apostles, His countless saints and martyrs, who have given their all in following and serving Him. I call upon us all to walk in the footsteps of these four original Apostles, and be inspired to continue carrying out whatever missions and vocations that the Lord has called us to do.
May God Bless You and Grant You His Peace!