18/1/26
Today's homily is an excerpt from a homily by Alyce McKenzie.
Alyce M. McKenzie is Professor of Homiletics at the Southern Methodist University Perkins School of Theology in Dallas, Texas. She is the author of a number of books including "Preaching Proverbs: Wisdom for the Pulpit" and "Parables for Today,"
Of Introductions
I have a friend, Susan, who says her husband always remembers a face but seldom a name. So when they go to a social event and approach someone whose name he should know but does not remember, they have devised a social strategy that works for them. He places his hand gently in the small of her back and guides her toward the person with these words, "This is my wife, Susan." Anyone with any manners at all is going to respond by giving their own name. Not many people are going to just stare at Susan until it becomes awkwardly clear that her husband has no recollection of their name. I'll bet that any of you reading this would respond by putting out your hand, shaking her hand, and saying, with a gracious smile, "It's nice to meet you, Susan. My name is ___________."
Our text for this morning has John introducing Jesus to some of his (John's) disciples, with the description: "Look, here is the Lamb of God!" This is called a "revelation formula”. John likes to use this technique when recounting people's interactions with Jesus in his gospel. For example In 1:49, Nathanael introduces Jesus to his view of him: "Rabbi, you are the Son of God!" Jesus dying on the cross introduces his mother to the disciple whom he loved and vice versa. "Woman, here is your son. . . . Here is your mother."
In today's gospel, Jesus prompts the disciples to figure out their own true identity, or, more precisely, to be guided toward it by Jesus. It's an odd scenario, really. Not like anything that would happen in ordinary social gatherings when people are introduced to other people. John introduces Jesus to two of his own disciples. It sounds like he may almost have been talking to himself, and they overheard. They followed Jesus. When he turns around and asks, "What are you looking for?" he is asking them to identify themselves. To say something like: "We are two people looking for meaning and purpose in our lives, and we think you may be it." I think the reason they don't say that is because they are not sure who they are or even that they are looking for something. So instead of answering, they counter Jesus' question with another question: "Where are you staying?"
And they stay with him all day. At some time during the day, Andrew, one of the two, goes and gets his brother Simon. He introduces Jesus to his brother from a distance with the description "This is our Messiah, Jesus." In the subsequent face-to-face encounter with Jesus, Jesus gives Simon a new identity: "You are Simon, son of John. You are to be called Cephas" (1:42).
In terms of my friend Susan's anecdote, John the Baptist is introducing us to Jesus, saying, "This is the Lamb of God, Jesus."
This introduction tells us three things about Jesus.
First, He is the lamb who destroys evil.
Second, He is the Suffering Servant willing to give his life for the redemption of his people.
Third, He is the paschal lamb who takes away our sins and leads us from bondage to liberation.
In bread and wine, in spoken word and silence, in stolen homilies, in chortles of laughter and unstoppable sobbing The Master introduces himself to us.
It is now up to us to put out our hand and say who we are and allow him to shape our identity in the year to come.
I suspect Susan's husband is not the only one who utilises the "this is my wife, Susan" social technique to get somebody to reveal his or her identity to them. I admit to having used the "this is my husband Murry" approach on many an occasion. It worked for John the Baptist, as he introduces Jesus: "This is the Lamb of God." It motivated two men wandering around looking for something, unaware they were looking for something, to follow Jesus and allow him to give them an identity as more than wanderers.
This is the one who will shape our identities if we choose to follow him. This is the one who is working against injustice and brutality in our world and in our lives. This is the one who was willing to sacrifice his life that we might have a new life and who calls us to sacrifice selfish aims and comfortable goals. This is the one who opens a path to that new life through choppy seas and roaring waves. Through the grave into eternity itself.
Hoping for an answer, today he looks at us lovingly and says
"Look! I am the Lamb of God." And you are . . . ?