Come and See

I've worked now in Campus Ministry in High School and College levels for 6 years all together. One of the incredible situations that continually happens is the constant invitation of new individuals to join the team or get involved. Recently, there was a student in his senior year who had no idea what "campus ministry" was or what I did at the school. At first, this question made me wonder if I had failed terribly at my ministry, for he had known me for three years, and did not know what I did! But instead of sitting him down and explaining it in detail, I simply turned to him, looked him in the eye and said, "Come and see." I invited him to join our weekly meeting, which was happening that day over their lunch hour and got him involved with the activities of that day.  At the end of the day, he came requesting to join the team and brought a friend too. 

Recently my prayer to God has been, " Lord, make me an instrument of your love." That is all I desire to be in my ministry: an instrument which brings these students who are surrounded by secular culture, into a deep encounter with God and his love. To do this effectively, I've found,  you have to show a genuine interest in their lives, be human, have a good sense of humour, and meet them where they are. When they make a mistake, or do something I don't like, I never get mad at them, instead I positively encourage them along, helping them to see the right path forward. 

Today is the second Sunday in Ordinary Time, and in the gospel today, (John 1:35-42) we are told of the encounter of John's disciples with Jesus. John, having the humility and deep faith to point his own disciples to the true light, exclaims, "Look, here is the Lamb of God!" The disciples quickly follow Jesus, and Jesus simply invites them with a "Come and see" or a, "Come and see everything which I am, which  I offer, which I came for", or "Come and see the Father." 

The disciples followed and had an incredible encounter. So much so that Andrew found his brother, the to-be pope, Simon, and brought him to Jesus. An encounter with the Lord, demands that we share the joy, experience, and love with other people. An encounter with the Lord demands that we become an instrument of love. 

The letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians today reminds us that our bodies are a temple of the Holy Spirit within us, which we received from God (1 Corinthians 6: 19) St. Paul focuses this part of the letter on fornication, and how it has no place in the life of a believer. But I wonder what else we might add to this list: anger, grudges, judgment, bullying, swearing, selfishness, unforgiveness, greed, stealing, resentment, and so much more. I think here of Mark 7:20-23 where Jesus says, " For it is from within, from the human heart, that evil intentions come: fornication, theft, murder,  adultery, avarice, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, folly.  All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”  This list is the list of things which should not be found within the person of a believer; not to be found within a believer on the way. All of these things are the antithesis to the theology of Come and See, and separate us from becoming a full instrument of God's love. 

When St. Paul encourages us to become a temple of the Holy Spirit, he reminds us of our encounter with God and the deep reality that demands of us. In giving our free response to God, we are required to live out the encounter and all that he has called us to; he has called us to become instruments of his love. 

So search within yourself today, and examine your heart where the temple within you needs cleaning. What intention within you, is making your temple unclean, and therefore making a bearer for you to bring others to Christ? 

The encounter leads to participation, and the participation leads to invitations. 

Will you invite others through the way you live?

Mike