“Come and see” - By Bishop G
Dear Friends,
I have a friend named Andrew who teaches writing and is also a writer. A few years ago, he introduced me to a diary prefilled with questions, intended to help me tell the story of who and how I became the person that I am. It’s called “The Story of My Life: If a Story Is in You, It Has to Come Out”. This diary asks me to write about things like what I did with my first paycheck, and why it was important to me; when was the first time I intentionally lied? Here’s my favorite: “in what moment of your life have you felt the most loved?”
Every Easter Season, or the Great Fifty Days, we read a lot of scripture from the Gospel according to John, and in John 1:38, Jesus asks an excellent question: “What are you looking for?” John the Baptist guides his own disciples to Jesus, saying, “Look, here is the Lamb of God.” The disciples follow Jesus, and when he sees them coming, he asks them what they’re looking for. But they don’t answer him. Instead, they ask him, “Rabbi, where are you staying?” He answers, “Come and see.” The gospel writer tells us the disciples remained with Jesus that day, and then he tells us this odd little detail, “It was about four in the afternoon.”
Scholars speculate that four in the afternoon would be significant if that day were the sabbath. If it were the sabbath, late in the day, and about to get dark, then the disciples would have to remain with Jesus that night because they couldn’t travel after sundown. They would stay with him Friday night and all day Saturday until dark, when the sabbath ended. In other words, they’d be forced to stick around with Jesus. I wonder what that was like. Did they talk all night? Did they ever tell Jesus what they were looking for?
In the fourth gospel, certain words take on great significance, creating a special language for spiritual experience, almost like a code. To see Jesus is code for believing in Jesus as the Son of God and Savior of the world. To stay with him, remain or abide with him, is code for entering a relationship with him. Disciples are said to remain in Jesus, and he remains in them. We say that we are in Christ and Christ is in us.
Our relationship with Jesus is so intense that we try to live our lives the way he would live them if he were here in this time and place. Just like any relationship, a relationship with Jesus Christ means giving up some time and energy to being with him – communicating and communing with him. Our Lord’s prayer says, “…thy Kingdom come on earth as it is in Heaven.” Our prayers bring a little bit of heaven to earth in each moment. Our prayers offered each day and our lives lived in service is our effort to do what Jesus asked of his disciples when he said, “…remain with me, abide,” meaning literally to “pitch your tent” and move into relationship with him. As the disciples do that, their community grows.
Scripture tells us disciples spend time with Jesus and believe in him. Then they tell other people about the wonder and hope and joy of knowing Jesus. John the Baptist believes Jesus is the Son of God and he sends his disciples to him. Andrew believes, and introduces Peter to Jesus. Later Philip brings Nathanael to Jesus. And then the Samaritan woman brings her whole town to Jesus.
Popular opinion says the Church is disappearing, shrinking, obsolete. As I look around at our churches and hear their stories of grace, I do not believe the Church is disappearing or obsolete. But I do believe the Church is changing, and as we change, we’ll become better equipped to carry the message of Jesus to the next generation. I am known for saying “I hope I see you at church!” That’s because I think that when we get there, however often that is, each time counts enormously. Each time we go to church we place ourselves in the path of grace, and when we least expect it, we’ll receive exactly what we need to heal or change or grow or find peace and hope. I know because I’ve seen it so many times.
At almost every parish I visit, someone will ask me, “Bishop how can we help our parish grow?” Maybe I can answer that question with another question. “In what moment in your life did you feel truly loved?” As you consider that, invite someone to your church, a prayer gathering, or an outreach event. Inviting someone to church is the most successful way to grow a parish, and it happens one person at a time.
Simply extend the invitation by saying, “Come and See”, and let’s see what happens next. I believe the person you invite may hear Jesus saying ‘I love you.’ Your invitation can open the door to them knowing they are loved eternally. It all starts with “Come and See”. The wonderful gift of asking someone may also help us remember that we are also loved.
As always, I am honored to be your bishop and I hope I see you soon,
Blessings,
+G