THREE ORDINARY PEOPLE
Jesus has walked on this earth and spoken the human language. He
proclaimed and effected human redemption; He who has tasted death and restored
life. He can take what is ordinary and make extraordinary.
Three
ordinary people whose lives are about to be changed forever: Simon, his bother
Andrew, and another unnamed friend of Andrew. They are looking for the Messiah,
but what they discover is that the Messiah has been looking for them. He
changes their lives; it's a defining moment for them. We know that Simon and
Andrew were ordinary fishermen. But, when Jesus Christ searches for them and
calls them, they become extraordinary people. Peter becomes the rock on which
the Catholic Church is built; Andrew is an extraordinary Apostle of the Church
in his time. But, what about the third person, the one standing with Andrew
when Jesus appears on the scene? He is so ordinary that the Gospel doesn't even
give him a name.
John is
standing with the two disciples and as he watches Jesus walk by, he says,
"Behold, the Lamb of God" (Jn 1:36b). What a great moment to witness
Who Christ is. In the Responsorial Psalm we acclaim: "All the ends of the
earth have seen the saving power of God" (Ps 98:3cd). May it strengthen our
faith and open our eyes to make us realize that God's victory is upon us. Jesus
has walked on this earth and spoken the human language. He proclaimed and
effected human redemption; He who has tasted death and restored life. He can
take what is ordinary and make extraordinary.
I will
end with this thought: "When a
defining moment comes along, you can do one of two things. Define the moment,
or let the moment define you" (John Norville and Ron Shelton from Tin
Cup).