LET ME INTRODUCE YOU

There's a verse in this Sunday's Gospel selection (John 1:35-42) that has captivated my imagination. The scene is this: John the Baptist has proclaimed "Behold, the Lamb of God," and tells two of his own disciples, "Follow him." Andrew is one of the two. After introducing himself to Jesus and seeing where Jesus is staying, Andrew goes and gets his brother Simon, telling him "We have found the Messiah." This is where things get interesting: The gospel tells us that Andrew "brought him to Jesus (v. 42)". 

I WANT YOU TO MEET SOMEONE SPECIAL

Andrew's brother

All of the gospels agree that Simon Peter is quite a character: stubborn, hot-headed, and impulsive for starters Can you picture Andrew trying to convince Simon to take time off from fishing to come and meet this new wandering rabbi? The evangelist doesn't tell us what Andrew said to his brother, only that "he brought him to Jesus." 

I've been reflecting on the word "brought," a common Greek verb with a variety of related meanings: "to carry, bear, guide." The usual translation works fine -- Andrew brought his brother to Jesus." But if we play around with some other meanings we can get some practical reflections for our daily lives.

One sensible alternative translation might be: "Andrew guided his brother to Jesus." Simon wasn't the type to be yanked around by somebody else. Maybe Andrew had to be subtle and clever, letting Simon think that he was deciding on his own to go see Jesus?

My favorite translation is "Andrew introduced Simon to Jesus." No matter how Andrew got Simon into Jesus' presence, Andrew would still have had to introduce him: "Rabbi, this is my brother, Simon." This image provokes some pointed questions for you and me: "Who have you introduced to Jesus lately?" "How do you introduce others to Jesus?" "When do you have opportunities to introduce others to Jesus?" 

I've watched our First Grade teacher presenting a lesson about Our Lord to her students; she almost literally says "Let me introduce you to Jesus." Obviously preachers and religious instructors are consciously introducing others to Jesus. But what about every other baptized Christian?  When I listen to someone on the phone go on for half an hour, venting their anger or their worries, I'm introducing them to Jesus, the infinitely Patient One. When I offer to help a brother monk with some project, am I not introducing them to Jesus, the Help of the weak? Or when I quietly put up with some situation that aggravates the heck out of me, isn't my silence helping to let someone meet the Lord of Patience? 

One of the main roles of a baptized Christian is to act like Andrew towards my brothers and sisters and introduce them to Jesus.

I KNOW YOU ALREADY, SIMON

A further detail  provides you and me with some motivation for bringing people to Jesus. "Then he brought him to Jesus. Jesus immediately looked at him and said, 'You are Simon the son of John; you will be called Cephas (which is translated Peter) (v.42)." Jesus already knows who Simon is, and foretells his future role as the "rock" on which the church will be built. Our Lord was depending on Andrew to introduce Peter to him. It was part of the mysterious divine plan.

I have no idea about how the Lord needs me to further the plan of divine love in the world, about who the Lord needs be to bring to him the way Andrew brought his brother. So, I had better live in such a way that I'm introducing every person I meet to our Savior by my actions, my attitude and my words. I will likely touch a few people that the Lord has known and loved since the Beginning of time, and whom he has been waiting to be introduced to. By me!