Sunday Devotion: 19 January 2020, Second Sunday after Epiphany
Sunday Devotions
What are you looking for?
Written by clergy and lay people across our Diocesan community, ‘Sunday Devotions’ is a column of short reflections based on a Lectionary reading of the day, suitable for small group discussion or personal use.
Main readings: Isaiah 49.1-7; Psalm 40.1-14; 1 Corinthians 1.1-19; John 1.29-42
Supplementary readings: Psalm 37.27-41; Matthew 6.1-6; Habakkuk 2.1-5, 12-14; Psalm 37.5-12; Romans 1.8-17
“When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, “What are you looking for?” (John 1.38)
One morning my daughter came to me with a look of great concern on her face. She had lost one of her beloved soft toys. It was clear that this particular soft toy had to be found as a matter of urgency. She told me that it was her favourite little puppy. I spent 30 minutes searching everywhere and was about to give up when an excited little voice proclaimed that it had been found. She came rushing to me and pressed the soft toy into my hands. It was a unicorn!
The Gospel reading set for this Sunday includes the baptism of Jesus and the story of the first disciples. John clearly proclaims Jesus’ identity as the Lamb of God. The first disciples follow Jesus, recognising him as the Messiah. When Jesus noticed that he is being followed by Andrew and his companion he asked, “What are you looking for?” This question echoes as a call to all believers throughout the ages.
The disciples were often confused or misunderstood the actions and teachings of Jesus. Just as I had missed the toy unicorn in plain sight, it can be easy to miss the Christ in our midst if we do not know what we are looking for in the first place. As followers of Christ, we should allow ourselves to be challenged by the question, ‘What are you looking for?’
Are we searching for the wrong things or are we searching with the Christ-like eyes of justice, mercy, grace, and forgiveness?
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