“What are you looking for?”

/ esteban

The Gospel reading and homily from today’s Mass (Jan 4 here in PNG) has been rattling around in my head this morning and I thought I would write about it while I still have a few minutes of internet time left.

The reading is Jn 1:35-42 and in it, Jesus asks, “What are you looking for?”, when he sees some disciples following him.  It also tells how Andrew, after spending the day listening to Jesus, goes and finds his brother Simon and tells him that they’ve found the Messiah and he needs to go meet him.  Of course Simon becomes known as Peter.  Andrew always seems to be bringing people to meet Jesus.

Fr. Cyril, the priest at St. Fidelis,  spoke of this Gospel reading in terms of vocations.  St. Fidelis is in the “business” of vocations. Our job is to help the young seminarians who arrive here to give birth to, nurture, define, and learn to care for their own vocations.  An awesome responsibility.

I wouldn’t be here in PNG if I didn’t feel a vocation for working with young adults.  That’s why I was in campus ministry for so long and it’s a big part of why I’m here now.

I hope I’m up to the tasks ahead and pray that I’m where God wants me to be and not too dull a tool for his work.

6 thoughts on ““What are you looking for?””

  1. Every silly comment from me is accompanied by a prayer, whether or not you know this (though I guess, now you know).

    I’m sure you’ll grow in unanticipated ways form this experience, but I know you’ll also be doing amazing things, big and small, for these men.

  2. Steve, you are hardly a dull tool! You were called to PNG for a reason! Enjoy your work there—you have the opportunity to help with the formation of these young men! May God bless the work that you do now and always. xxx

  3. What she said…

    JK – please keep your posts coming. Along with those young men you are serving in PNG, you’re providing an amazing role model about “saying yes” to the rest of us here!

    • Whoa now! That’s a mighty tall order! I wish you could see some of the priests and brothers that have been here for 50 or more years. Amazing work they’ve done and how they’ve managed in the face of so many obstacles. They’re the real saints.

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