Come and See (2012-01-15)

This is my homily for Sunday 15 January 2012. I am a Catholic chaplain in Teaneck at Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU) campus and for the FDU Newman Catholic Association. We celebrate Catholic Mass - during Fall and Spring semester - every Sunday Evening (7:30 p.m.) at the Interfaith Chapel, 842 River Road, Teaneck, NJ. Our Sunday Evening Mass resumes Jan. 22, 2012 at 7:30 p.m.

[_01_] Come and See.

What do we mean by “come and see.”

For example, government leaders also come and see each other all the time. The Prime Minister of Japan or the Great Britain comes to the White House to see the President. These leaders arrive not for a visual inspection but also for a relationship. To have such a summit, the leaders must see each other. But, they also must listen, hear each other… enter into a relationship / dialogue.

When I was about 15 years old, one of our neighbors called to invite my family (parents, my brothers, my sister and me) to their home in late December.

“You are invited to come over and see our Christmas tree.”
(repeat)

“You are invited to come over and see our Christmas tree.”

This was the message

Foolishly did I think this literally meant a visual examination of the height, diameter, lighting, and ornamentation of their evergreen.

Had this been the case, our visit would take 5 to 10 minutes. Fortunately, my parents explained that “come and see our tree” really meant “come to our house … along with 50 other people, have something to eat, drink, stay awhile.” This would be the this neighbors’ annual Christmas party.

(I was clueless).

[_02_] This invitation to come and see could be very informal and quick.
Certainly, this was my perception as a young person. That is, after we had seen the tree, then we would go on our way to someplace else, to our real destination.

In this case, at that party “seeing” was the whole point. However, we were not there only to see a tree, but to experience the joy of Christmas in this celebration at home. And, my eyes would be opened to this, once had I arrived. Come and see.

Come and see, therefore, often means:

• Time commitment
• Gift of oneself

Isn’t this the case for the 2 disciples of John the Baptist who stop Jesus who is passing by.

They have been watching, waiting for the Messiah with John the Baptist for sometime. Now, the Messiah – Jesus – has appeared and he invites them along.

These 2 individuals ask Jesus, “where do you dwell …where do you live?”

With John the Baptist, they have been anticipating/preparing the a highway for the Lord. Should this highway, now, lead to a particular exit ramp … landmarks and destination/address?

They might expect Jesus, Messiah and King, to take up residence in particular place, palace, government building.

[_02_] Jesus invites them to come and see.

However, they are not – we are not – being invited to a confined spot/place.
Jesus is inviting them to a new type of summit meeting … to a new mountain top.
Consider what happens in ordinary “summit meetings” when government leaders get together.

[_03_] Jesus is also inviting us not only to a place but also to a relationship.

The disciples are invited to come and see, and to stay a while, to abide with him.

[_04_] Are you and I willing to go and watch for the coming of Jesus today, to accept his invitation to come and see, with an open heart.
Arriving at Sunday Mass is a start. However, aren’t we invited to encounter and observe Christ elsewhere …

[_04-examples_]

• At the bedside or home of a family member who is aging or suffering from an illness. These visits may take more than a few minutes. The hours and days we spend are a gift, of our love of God and love of neighbour. We come and see.

• In the care of our children. When children ask us to see something they have done, are they not asking for more than a quick glance. We nurturing our children by observing, entering into their projects, their enthusiasm, their viewpoints. And, we nurture them by seeing them. And, we are invited to see the Christ child in them also. We come and see.

• In prayer. We come and see when we welcome God’s grace and help in our lives. Do you and I need to be healed of some resentment or need to be resolved about some commitment, decision? We are invited to come and see Jesus in our own prayer time, not only on Sunday but throughout the week.

[_05_] We are invited to remember the words of Samuel from our Reading from the Book of Samuel. Samuel is surrounded by beauty and grandeur of God in the Temple. Yet, even come to the Temple, having seen all of this… receives God’s message when he can say.. Speak Lord for your servant is listening.

With this statement, Samuel and you and I have truly arrived.

[_fin_]