They saw where he lived and stayed with him: Commentary Fr. Jorge Miró

Sunday, January 14, 2024

Cathopic

Father Jorge Miró shares with Exaudi readers his commentary on today’s Gospel, Sunday, January 14, 2024, titled “They saw where he lived, and they stayed with him”

***

Last Sunday, the ordinary time of the liturgical year began. The beauty of this time is in the fact that it invites you to live an ordinary life as a path of holiness, faith, and friendship with Jesus.

On these first Sundays, before Lent, we are going to discover that being Christian is not moralism, but following Jesus and, therefore, we are going to see the fundamental attitudes of the disciple, as a preparation to be able to listen to and welcome all the preaching of Jesus.

The Word of God that we proclaim today presents faith to us as a call from God who loves us, and as the response of the man who opens himself to God, allows himself to be loved by Him, and is transformed by his love. The entire life of man is a vocation, a call from God, and a response from man: a call to life, a call to holiness, a call to a concrete vocation-mission, called every day to do his will. Perhaps for this reason, the Church invites us to begin each day with the Liturgy of the Hours with the inviting Psalm: May you hear the voice of the Lord today, do not harden your hearts (Ps 94).

However, many times we live surrounded by concerns, fears and noises that prevent us from hearing the voice of God. Because God continues to call, he continues to invite faith…, what happens is that sometimes we turn deaf.

Because we live in the world of noises. Silence bothers us, it disconcerts us, and the Word of God announces to us today that God is heard in the silence of a humble heart, empty of anxieties, self-sufficiency and selfishness. Samuel heard the voice of the Lord in the silence of the night: that is why he could hear the Lord.


Because the call of the Lord is soft, and our attitude must be to be attentive, to be listening, because He is the Lord, we the disciples, He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, the Redeemer who frees us from the slavery of sin.

The first disciples heard the words of John the Baptist pointing to Jesus and went after Him. His response was the beginning of a new life. So new that – like a sign – even the name changes: You are Simon… you will be called Cephas, God continues to speak today too, and his Word compromises our way of living.

Our response to God’s call involves breaking with the lifestyle of the world to accept Christ as the light that illuminates your life, your attitudes, your works; and, with that light of Christ in your heart, let the Holy Spirit build your life as He wants, living your vocation to holiness.

The Lord invites you to follow him, to be holy, do you dare?

Come, Holy Spirit!