About John the Baptist, Jesus - and "Paddington 2"

The phrases that leap out to me from this early Gospel story are the two references to 'staring', or looking, 'hard' at someone! This may seem a small thing to pick up on but it intrigues me as it always seems surprising and unexpected. In the first instance, it is John the Baptist, who "stares hard" at Jesus. Then, the very next morning, it is Jesus who looks 'hard' at Simon, this, again, reminding me of "Paddington 2".

One of the scenes from the film that struck me at the time was of Paddington 'staring out' the 'baddie' with the 'hard stare' which had been taught him by his Aunt Lucy, in case he should find himself in trouble. He uses this hard stare to stand up against wrong doings. This makes the miscreants feel hot and embarrassed and completely puts them off their stroke. It reminds me of our phrase of 'staring someone out!

Looking up 'seeing' first, then 'looking' and 'staring'; the definitions given in google are of  'seeing' as using the power of sight, 'looking' as 'paying attention to what one is seeing' and 'staring' as 'looking at something for a long time with eyes wide open'. Think of the phrases we use, such as, 'take a long hard look at' ....(whatever might be the issues we need to examine with care).
.
Why would John the Baptist have needed to stare at Jesus? It must have been some kind of prompting which caused him to recognise in Jesus, as he walked along, someone and something so special, that he was 'the one who was to come', the Messiah. This seems to result in his virtually renouncing his own role, happily pointing his own 'disciples' in the direction of Jesus.

The very next day, Andrew, one of those who had followed after Jesus, brings his brother, Simon, to meet Jesus who, after 'looking hard' at him, must 'see' the man within, because he immediately renames him 'Cephas' (or Peter), meaning 'rock', a name which we know he will use much later in his ministry when he names Peter as the rock on which he will build his Church.

Wonderful!

Let us be more aware of those people or things at which we need to take a long, hard look to see the treasures within.

About New Year resolutions and sharing thoughts on the readings at Mass for the Epiphany

I'm not usually much of a one for these, as experience, from my own lack of success, has taught me that they are, generally, very short-lived. However, this first week of 2018 has seen me toying with the idea. So here goes.

The first one, from a 'God' point of view, is that I would like to share thoughts that occur to me from the Sunday readings at Mass. I've been wanting to do this for ages but kept looking for a 'good' time to start. Well, maybe now is as good a time as any.

Father has started a new practice of giving us a sheet which includes reflections on, and full versions of, the first readings and the Gospel. As he talks on them, it's great to have the texts to follow.

Yesterday's were on the feast of The Epiphany and the first phrase to jump out at me, from the Gospel, was " and opening up their treasures".

Oh what a picture came into my mind. Having seen "Paddington 2" last week with grandson E and his mum, I saw the hidden treasure chest spring open with golden and silver jewels, precious stones of all kinds, overflowing and bursting out.

Oh, if only we would open up our own inner treasures to the world, I thought, to share them with each other, as God shares his treasures with us. What a gift that would be for the newborn child!

The second phrase was above that one in the text, but, as I looked up the page, it caught my eye. Herod is told that the Messiah would come from Bethlehem, as "a leader, to shepherd his people, Israel".

What a beautiful image that is; not as a King, nor even, as a Ruler! No, he comes as a 'leader',  who will 'shepherd' his people!

How much are we all looking for a 'true' leader, one who cares, one who loves, one who will bring justice, peace and consolation; a shepherd who would guide and guard us and save us when we stray!

It's amazing how words that we may have heard countless times before can suddenly come alive for us. They certainly did for me, yesterday evening.

Favourite sayings of Jesus

This, like our individual love of words, must be an entirely unique choice but here are some of mine.
Top of the list is always this:

• "Come to me all you who labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest."

These must be the most COMFORTING words ever written, to my mind!

A close second is:

• "Let (s/)he who is without sin cast the first stone!!"

Perhaps we all need to hear these words in our hearts when tempted to be judgemental or critical.

A favourite of more recent years is this:

• "You will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free!"

Knowing and living the truth seems top of the list for living for finding peace of mind and heart.