Jesus saves us, shelters us and gives us our fill.  Those who go to him, and ask to hide in him and to have his fullness, are never disappointed.

We are back to the Ordinary Time (OT).  Each week only gets the “ordinal” number.  Hence, the word “ordinary.”  And so, these Sundays or weeks seem plain, common; they hide in some way.

In other words, the OT does not stand out as do those of the intense seasons of Advent, Christmas, Lent and Easter.  For it is not like these seasons; it does not point to a “particular aspect of the mystery of Christ” (UNLYNGRC 43).  What it celebrates is the mystery of Christ itself in its fullness, most of all on Sundays.

But as much as it seems to hide in the shadows, the OT is, yes, important.  It is the time of initiation, of humble beginnings that God’s grace sets before us.  And he blesses them and gives them success (SV.EN II:351; SV.EN V:219).

We hide in Jesus to find the treasures that hide in him.

For that is how Andrew and another follower of John start.  They avail of what John has said, and they follow Jesus.  And after a brief exchange of question and answer, they accept the call, “Come, and you will see.”

And when we stay with him, even if only from the time of the call till the afternoon, we will change for the better.  At least, we will have the knowledge and strength to say, “We have found the Messiah.”

Hence, it is the time to let Jesus start to bring us close to him as we hide where he stays. He will show us later on the treasures that hide in him: simplicity, humility, meekness.  He will form us, too, so that our bodies can become his members.  So that we may be full of love and zeal, in such a way that we are willing to die or to bear mortifications for him.

And it is the time also to lay a strong foundation, that is to say, to be open to the Word that seeks us.  For to listen to it and to do it is to build on rock (Mt 7, 24; CRCM II:1).  It will also train us, while we listen and watch, as young Samuel, to be prophets.  Never mind that we hide in the quiet and dark night.

So, to sum up, the OT calls us to start to be in communion with Jesus.  We keep a “foot on the door until a saint comes along.”  We set the stage, and then, who knows what greater works will spring forth?  May we be led to love in the same full way as the one who gave his life for us (1 Jn 3, 16).

Lord Jesus, grant that we live and die as you did, and to hide in you and have your fullness (SV.EN I:276).

17 Jan 2021
2nd Sunday in O.T (B)
1 Sam 3, 3b-10. 19; 1 Cor 6, 13c-15a. 17-20; Jn 1, 35-42