Experiencing God - Come and See 73

"Jesus said, `Come and see.' They went and saw the place where Jesus was staying.  They stayed with Jesus the rest of the day. Andrew was one of those two followers of John who heard John speak and went after Jesus.  The first thing Andrew did then was to find his brother Simon. He said, `We have found the Messiah!'
Gospel of John

What are you looking for?  What do you want?  These are the questions that we are all familiar with, particularly as it relates to our spouse and children.  How often have we said to our children:  What do you want?  What are you looking for? 

When Jesus turned to the two disciples of John and asked them this question, He didn't mean it in the same way as when we ask our kids.  What Jesus was asking: "What in life are you are looking for?  What are you aiming for, trying to get out of life?" 

If Jesus were here today, in our Church, He may ask us:  "What are you looking for in coming to Church?"  Our answer might be:  What am I looking for?  To be with you. To learn about you.  To be your disciple.  With that, Jesus' response would probably be the same for us as for His disciples:  "Come and See". 

For those who have accepted this invitation, the best of what we can offer to others is summed up in this very simple invitation: "Come and see".  Come and see for yourself what the Lord has to offer.  Experience what we have experienced in our lives.  And you will experience the pearl of great price, the treasure hidden in the field."

You can only extend the invitation.  It's up to the other to accept or reject it.  Andrew went immediately to his brother Simon to invite him to come and see the treasure he had discovered.  "We have found the Messiah!"  

It was Jesus who reached out to Simon Peter and helped him to discover what he was looking for.  In the same way, it is Jesus who reaches out to those whose hearts are open to receive Him.  All we can do is extent the invitation.  What is given can only be grasped by faith.

The Holy Spirit gives to those who are open in faith to know Jesus personally, to experience His love and to live the power of the Gospel.

Is this not the story for each of our lives as we experience our own encounter with Christ?

For me, it happened as an adult in my early twenties.  I saw others who had their own experience of faith and I wanted to share in it.  So they said to me: "Come and See".  It took a while to break through some old conditioning of pride, doubt, skepticism, but finally in one heart-felt sweep, I discovered that the One I was searching for was there all the time, calling me, beckoning me, and finally flooding my awareness with His Presence. 

We live in a world that is crying out for this discovery.  If only they would accept the invitation to "come and see", and discover what has been there all the time, waiting for them.

What is it in life are we looking for?  What is it we are aiming for, trying to get out of life?  Come and See!  It never really ever stops, because each of us have to be continually drawn into a deeper reality of who Christ is for us.  Each of us has to continually let go of the baggage we carry along the way to discover anew that which we truly desire, that which has been waiting for us all along.