WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?
Scripture Reading: John
1:35-43
In the opening verses of today’s gospel reading, John points out
to his disciples, “Behold the Lamb of God.” With this John teaches us not to
attach people to ourselves but to connect them to Jesus. As two of John’s
disciples set out to follow Jesus, He asked them a fundamental question which
is still relevant to us DSD family especially as we fast and pray for 21 days.
Child of God, “What are you looking for?”, why are you embarking on this 21
days fasting and prayer? Why are you seeking the face of God? In this year
2018, what is your aim and goal?
These are fundamental questions that reveals our fundamental quest. Some of us are desirous of material things, some are desirous of physical healing, others are desirous of financial prosperity, etc. These are not wrong aims in themselves but they should not be our fundamental quest in our discipleship. They should not be our primary aim, rather long for His abiding presence.
The two disciples’ answer to Jesus’ question calls us to rethink and re-evaluate why we are seeking the face of God. “Rabbi where are you staying?” “What they meant was that they did not wish to speak to Jesus only on the road. They wished to linger longer with Him.” The disciples wanted to stay with Jesus. They wanted to abide in His presence. They wanted to dwell in His house. They wanted to sit at His foot and listen. It was their sole desire to stay with Him. Psalms 42:1 says, “As the deer pants for the water brooks, So my soul pants for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God…” Don Moen wrote a song which should be our answer to Jesus’ question even as we continue our 21 days fasting tomorrow. The cry of our heart should be, “I just want to be where You are, dwelling daily in Your presence, I don’t want to worship from afar, draw me near to where You are. Take me to the place where You are, I just want to be with You. In Your presence, that’s where I always want to be…” Psalms 27:4 says, “The one thing I ask of the LORD–the thing I seek most–is to live in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, delighting in the LORD’s perfections and meditating in His Temple.” Brethren desire higher goals and values; when you sincerely encounter Jesus, nothing more matters to you.
These are fundamental questions that reveals our fundamental quest. Some of us are desirous of material things, some are desirous of physical healing, others are desirous of financial prosperity, etc. These are not wrong aims in themselves but they should not be our fundamental quest in our discipleship. They should not be our primary aim, rather long for His abiding presence.
The two disciples’ answer to Jesus’ question calls us to rethink and re-evaluate why we are seeking the face of God. “Rabbi where are you staying?” “What they meant was that they did not wish to speak to Jesus only on the road. They wished to linger longer with Him.” The disciples wanted to stay with Jesus. They wanted to abide in His presence. They wanted to dwell in His house. They wanted to sit at His foot and listen. It was their sole desire to stay with Him. Psalms 42:1 says, “As the deer pants for the water brooks, So my soul pants for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God…” Don Moen wrote a song which should be our answer to Jesus’ question even as we continue our 21 days fasting tomorrow. The cry of our heart should be, “I just want to be where You are, dwelling daily in Your presence, I don’t want to worship from afar, draw me near to where You are. Take me to the place where You are, I just want to be with You. In Your presence, that’s where I always want to be…” Psalms 27:4 says, “The one thing I ask of the LORD–the thing I seek most–is to live in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, delighting in the LORD’s perfections and meditating in His Temple.” Brethren desire higher goals and values; when you sincerely encounter Jesus, nothing more matters to you.
MASS: GREEN 1
Sam 3:3b-10. 19;
Ps
40:2. 4.
7-8.
8b-9.
10
(R.8a. 9a); 1
Cor 6:13c-15a. 17-20;
Accl. Jn.
1:41.17b;
Jn.
1:35-42 SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Prayer Point:
1. Visit the Blessed Sacrament and take the Daily Strength Devotional Prayer for the New Year.
1. Visit the Blessed Sacrament and take the Daily Strength Devotional Prayer for the New Year.
Exercise: Pray to be part of the 21-day Round-Off for Calabar
province from 17th to 20th January at Obudu Stadium, Obudu.
Users are encouraged to gather every Sunday at 2pm or at any other convenient time during the 21-day fasting period as a DSD family in your parish/area. Pray together and visit the hospital or the less privileged around you with gifts in the spirit of our 21 days fasting almsgiving.
Users are encouraged to gather every Sunday at 2pm or at any other convenient time during the 21-day fasting period as a DSD family in your parish/area. Pray together and visit the hospital or the less privileged around you with gifts in the spirit of our 21 days fasting almsgiving.
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