2nd Sunday Ordinary Time: Come and See what and who?

How would we explain Reno, Sparks, Northern Nevada to someone who has never been here? People assume it is like Las Vegas; tons of casinos, hot, flat, dry. How would we explain our part of paradise? What do the ads do? They show enticing photos of the Sierra and Tahoe; Balloon Races, skiing, the nicer golf courses, the finer restaurants. Why? They want people to come and see Northern Nevada; come and see the difference.

How would we explain the Catholic faith and how we believe in Jesus Christ to those who do not know? Would we try? Would we buy them “Catholicism for dummies” or “The Catechism of the Catholic Church” and tell them go ahead and read it, hoping they will find the answer there. (Ironically, that is how some RCIA groups operate.)

Several years ago there was a book about RCIA written called “The Parish is the curriculum.” A reminder that the RCIA is the Rite of Christian Initiation; it is the “process” by which adults become Catholic. The premise of the book is that in RCIA, those who wish to become disciples of Jesus Christ through Catholicism must be involved in the life of the parish. Catechumens, Inquirers and others must see how the Catholic Faith is lived by those who call themselves Catholics; those who are at some level of discipleship. The sense is that RCIA is not about learning from books, or from classes, but experiencing the faith first hand from those who live it. Information given is supposed to supplement and flesh out those experiences, not dominate.

This Gospel scene when we picture it can be amusing. Imagine two men told by their own master that this guy over there is someone very special. So they leave him to begin to follow this other guy, literally. Jesus is simply walking by, and he stops and looks back…what do you want? “We want to know more about you” they say. “Come and See!”

What an invitation, “Come and See.” Jesus does not lecture or pull out a scroll and start reciting; he does not test them, or ask them about their private lives…he invites them to “Come and See.” He wants them to experience him, and what he is about.

Now notice we are not told what they “See.” when they are with him. Yet, it impacts them. Andrew goes and gets Simon and uses the same phrase with him: ”Come and See the Messiah!” And Simon, experiencing Andrew’s enthusiasm, follows him to Jesus. And we know Simon will be changed.

When people, when our own children come to our parish, or come into our homes, or come into our lives however fleeting or enduring it may be…what will they see?

Will they see us, who claim to be Catholic, living life as faithful disciples? Will they see us being kind to others, treating all people with respect; listening to each other without judgment or hostility?

Will they see us willing to give up time to help others? Willing to give up things so as to share?

Will the community here in Reno and Spark, and all other parts of Northern Nevada see us Catholics working for the dignity of all human persons; in the womb yes, but also those in the shelters, those in the streets, those working hard to provide for families, those who seek a better life from other countries, those in prison, those in death row, those alone in hospital rooms?

Here at Mass, where we believe we are in the real presence of the Son of God, do they see us approaching communion with reverence, dignity, awe? Acting as if this is an event that is truly important to us? That Mass, the Eucharist, has meaning to us?

People will come and hopefully they will see a community, us, sharing our faith in Jesus Christ and our lives.

People will come and hopefully they will see Joy in our faces because we know that in Christ, God remains with us, always; God is with us forever.

Our Youth will come and I hope that they see in us adults, a love of God that is made visible in our love for others, in a trust that God makes all things anew.

Our Children will come and I hope they see us responding in prayer, responding in song, contemplating the very Word of God proclaimed

Our very lives proclaim in what, and more importantly in who we believe. Our very lives can explain what it means to be Catholic, here in Northern Nevada.

What will they come and see in us?