Second Sunday of Epiphany, January 15, 2023: Isaiah 49:1-7; 1 Corinthians 1:1-9; John 1:29-42; Psalm 40:1-12
Imagine my surprise when I looked at the readings for this week, and realized that the Gospel was another version of the story of Jesus’ baptism by John that we had read last week. In that passage, Matthew records John as recognizing Jesus before he was baptized, but the spirit descending from heaven is presented as a personal revelation to Jesus. This week, John recognizes Jesus, but also tells others that he saw the spirit descend on Jesus. In today’s gospel reading, the emphasis moves from Jesus being blessed by God to Jesus being seen by others. The contrast between the two mirrors experiences all of us have had: there are times when we are able to see ourselves in a new way, but that is often shaped by how people respond to us.
In John’s gospel, Jesus’ baptism by John is not the end of the story, but the beginning. Jesus’ ministry begins with his baptism. John recognizes Jesus and tells his followers; some of them follow him. Where are you staying? Andrew goes to get his brother Simon Peter. They hang around him for the rest of the day. You get a sense of the buzz, as when someone first listens to a good new band: you have to hear this!
We often tell people to trust their gut. But in our lives, we regularly look for advice or affirmation from others. We consult with friends and family when we are falling in love. We take advice when thinking about a new job, or moving to a new place. We recognize that those who know us and care about us can help us see our way forward. As friends and family, we listen to those we care for and try to help them discern what is best for them and their life. Lives play out in community.
In the church, when someone experiences a call to ministry, we pay attention to their feeling. But we also test it: we have a discernment committee which meets with them over time to help them think through their call. Sometimes a discernment committee will affirm where someone thinks they are going, but it might also help them see more clearly the direction they are really called to. In other words, the Church assumes that one’s ministry is created in dialogue with the community.
We think of Jesus as always knowing what the story of his ministry would be. But maybe he didn’t know what would happen with his call: maybe he knew he was called to something, but wasn’t sure what. We know that later in his ministry, he wanted to know how he was seen. Maybe the way he was followed by some of John’s disciples shaped how his ministry developed. It mattered that they addressed him as “Rabbi”.
As we listen to where God is calling us, it is also worth listening to where those around us are calling us. What are the gifts they call out? God may be speaking to us through them.