Among my most cherished memories in grade school and high school were when classmates or cousins would invite us to their homes to celebrate a birthday or enjoy the seasonal fruits in their backyard. We not only filled our stomachs but came to know more about our host classmates and their families. In turn, I would invite some of my classmates and cousins to our home, especially during harvest season or during some special celebration, which gave them the opportunity to know me and my family better.
Jesus’ invitation to the first disciples—"Come, and you will see”—has become a proverbial or prescribed description for vocation promotion. It is Jesus’ response to the curiosity of Andrew and his companion, asking him, “Rabbi, where are you staying?” We are told that “they stayed with him that day.” The Greek verb menō means “to stay.” It means more than simply “staying” or being physically in a place. It means spending time and sharing life with another person. As a result, each one is enriched and knows the other better.
One of the apparent maladies of our time is the weakening of commitment among friends, spouses, people towards their country, and believers toward their God. Many find it difficult to stay, to remain, to be committed. Everyone seems to be moving frantically. As a result, the “roots” of relationships do not deepen; they remain superficial and weak.
There was a time in the seminary—before the age of cellphones and the internet—when we seminarians would find time to gather after meals in our recreation rooms where we would chat, play some games, and simply “waste time” with one another. Nowadays, they rush their meals and head straight to their rooms to waste time with their computers or cell phones, and I guess that is true for families, too.
No more time for personal conversations, for sharing life—things essential to formation. Jesus shows us that part of being truly human is spending time with one another. May we not lose sight of this valuable human experience so as to be rooted in one another and God.
“Jesus looked at Peter and said: ‘You are Simon … you will be called Cephas.’” It must have been a penetrating and captivating look! Peter followed Him like a meek lamb.
There must be many ways of looking: dagger-like looks that wound, seductive looks that tempt, etc. But there are also looks of tenderness, comfort, and support. Accompanied with the right words, a look can revive lost hopes and encourage one to move on despite the burdens that weigh upon the person. But the best look is the one that says to the person, “I love you, and you can count on me.” It is the “look of love.” Is this not why we look at the body of the Lord in the Mass or gaze at him in adoration chapels? Are we not encouraged by the look of Jesus to continue following him, like Peter, no matter the cost?
Father Boby John, C.S.C., is a dedicated priest of the Congregation of Holy Cross, ordained in 2008. Rooted in the vibrant culture of Kerala, India, he answered a profound calling to serve among tribal communities in Northeast India for thirteen years as a pastor and educator. A scholar and servant-leader, he holds a master's degree in Educational Management and a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership. He now brings his pastoral heart and academic expertise to his dual role as Co-Director of Family Rosary USA and Chaplain at The Father Peyton Center of Holy Cross Family Ministries in North Easton, Massachusetts.
