The Real News Louisiana

    By: Herbert de Launay

Jesus kept things simple. His message was often simply, “Come!”

     Are we curious? Are we looking for something more in life? Two of John’s disciples heard John refer to Jesus, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” They were curious and followed Jesus. Jesus asked them, “What are you looking for?” Perhaps unsure what to say, they answered, “Rabbi, where are you staying?” Jesus answered, “Come and see” (John 1:36-39).

     Perhaps we are busy with our work and daily lives. Like the fishermen at Lake Galilee, we are busily fishing or fixing our nets. And Jesus suddenly says, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:18-22).

     Sometimes Jesus speaks to our hearts in moments of quiet prayer. At other times, it is in our busy daily lives that we hear his call, “Come!”

     Perhaps we are struggling. Perhaps we are weighed down with burdens. Jesus says, “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28-30).

     But if Jesus invites us to come to him, we may need to leave other things behind. In Matthew 19:16-30, we read of a rich young man who felt drawn to Jesus. He sensed a need for something deeper to fulfill his life. In response to his persistent questioning, Jesus said to him, “Go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

     Especially, we long to hear Jesus tell us to come to him at the Last Judgment, as we read in Matthew 25:31-46. To those on his right Jesus says, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father.” To those on his left Jesus says, “Depart from me.” This passage speaks of feeding the hungry, welcoming the stranger, and caring for the ill and those in prison. Jesus explains that, whatever we do for these least ones, we do for him. Mother Teresa of Calcutta often reflected on these words of Jesus, “You did it for me.”

     In John 6:35 Jesus says, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.” In John 6:37 Jesus says, “Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and I will not reject anyone who comes to me.” In John 6:44 Jesus explains, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draw him, and I will raise him on the last day.”

     In John 11 we read of the death and raising of Lazarus. Perhaps we are spiritually dead in sin. Perhaps we feel empty and dead inside. But Jesus can call us to new life. In the death of our sin, may we hear Jesus call us by name, even as he said to his friend, “Lazarus, come forth!”

     As it says in Psalm 95, “If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.” As Samuel said, “Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening” (1 Samuel 3:1-10).

     Jesus is looking at you and at me. He is repeating to you and me what he said to others. “Come, follow me!” “Come to me, you who are weary and find life burdensome.” We may not know what our future holds for us. We do not know what God has planned for us (1 Corinthians 2:9). But Jesus invites us to take his hand and go with him. “Come and see!”