Daily HOMILY for January 4, 2017: Christmas Weekday, Cycle A

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Retreat for SMSU 1^st Theologians

January 4, 2107

Jesuit Retreat Center

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? +++++++++++++++++

Ø  Today’s Gospel features an odd exchange of dialogue, which trades question for question

Ø  “What are you looking for?” asks Jesus, a seemingly loaded question

Ø  But the disciples of John the Baptist, rather than answering, ask him, “Rabbi, where are you staying?”

THE QUESTION EXPLAINED +++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  It seems like a non sequitur, but I once heard it explained that the question “Where are you staying?” might be more accurately translated as “Where are you coming from?” or “What’s your deal?”

Ø  To that query, Jesus says, “Come, and you will see,” and they follow him

Ø  After they stay with Jesus for the day, when presumably Jesus explains to them what his deal is, it turns out to be a day of conversion

Ø  Andrew knows they have found the Messiah, the one they’ve long awaited

Ø  There is no going back for them

APPLICATION ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  It is helpful to ask ourselves, especially as we begin an untrodden year: “Where are we staying?” “What’s our deal?”

Ø  Have we distanced Jesus?

Ø  Are we staying in our comfort zones, with doors locked and curtains drawn?

Ø  Are we staying clear of anything that might challenge us or demand more of us then we want to give?

CONCLUSION ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  “Come, and you will see”

Ø  Jesus invites us to stay with him in these days of retreat, rather than remain apart from him

Ø  If we stay with Jesus, we may not be safe, but we will be filled with the Holy Spirit

Ø  We will be fed

Ø  We will be loved

Ø  In the end, it will be what we are looking for

Ø  May these day of retreat make a real difference for us!

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