This is what the Sunday Gospel for January 18th (John 1:35-42) invites us to do, this Gospel which presents to us the first meeting between Jesus and some of those who became his apostles.

These men were disciples of John the Baptist, and it is he, in fact, who had brought them to Jesus, when, after the baptism in the Jordan, he presented Him as the "Lamb of God" (John 1:36).

Two of these disciples then followed the Messiah, who asked them "What do you seek?" They answered by asking him, "Rabbi [which means teacher], where are you staying?" Jesus answered, "Come and see." That is, he invited them to follow him and spend some time with him.

They did so, and after the few hours they spent with him, they were so impressed that immediately one of them, Andrew, went to his brother Simon to tell him, "We have found the Messiah."

Here we have two particularly significant words: "seek" and "find."

These two words can be for us a guideline for the new year, a time in which our spiritual journey with Jesus can be renewed with the joy of seeking and finding him incessantly. The most authentic joy is, in fact, in our relationship with Jesus….

To be a disciple of Christ: that is enough for a Christian. Friendship with the Master assures us of profound peace and serenity, even in dark moments and the most difficult trials.

When faith goes through dark nights, when we no longer sense God’s presence, friendship with Jesus guarantees that, in reality, there is nothing that can separate us from his love (cf. Romans 8:39)

The word of God invites us, like the disciples, to take up, once again, this journey of faith that never ends. "Rabbi, where do you live?" we ask, and he answers us, "Come and see."

Ours is an incessant search and discovery. Though Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and always, we and the world are always changing, and he unceasingly gives us communion with him and fullness of life.

Let us ask the Virgin Mary to help us follow Jesus and to begin to experience, this very day, the joy of penetrating ever more into his mystery.

—Adapted from an Angelus talk, Janary 15, 2006.