The next day John the Baptist was there again with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he said, "Behold, the Lamb of God." The two disciples heard what he said and followed Jesus. Jesus turned and saw them following him and said to them, "What are you looking for?" They said to him, "Rabbi" (which translated means Teacher), "where are you staying?" He said to them, "Come and you will see." So they went and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day. It was about four in the afternoon. Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, was one of the two who heard John and followed Jesus. He first found his own brother Simon and told him, "We have found the Messiah" (which is translated Anointed). Then he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, "You are Simon the son of John; you will be called Kephas" (which is translated Peter).   

Kyle Pratt, the jet propulsion engineer who helped designed the jumbo-jet plane she was traveling on, knew the plane backwards and forwards. She also knew that her daughter had been on that plane with her, and now was missing, even though no one believed her, and the audience of the movie is beginning to feel that perhaps she is imagining everything because of the grief that she has. But Kyle knew the truth, and the truth drove her, moving her to do what she had to do, even if it meant real personal danger.   

Knowing the truth is one thing. Acting because of it is quite another. The early Apostles of John the Baptist must have had such a feeling as they listened and accepted what John the Baptist taught. Likewise, it was a guiding principle for them as they discovered the truth that Jesus was teaching. They were searching for the truth, and once they found it with Jesus, they quickly concluded that Jesus was the fulfillment of their search. Then the knowledge of the truth drove them to give up everything to follow the truth they found.

Having faith in Jesus Christ and in what he taught is the truth that every Christian should desire. It is easy enough to find in the Gospels and from those who have written about the Gospels. But knowing the truth is not enough. Just as Kyle Pratt was driven by the truth that her daughter was alive in the movie "Flightplan," the Apostles Andrew and Simon teach Christians what they should do as they accept the truth of who Jesus is. They must act. Their lifestyles must change. They must pay attention to the virtues that Jesus taught and make them part of their living.

As the truth of Christianity becomes their guide, Christians will accept what Jesus taught, even if it means accepting the difficult task of re-shaping their lives.                   

THOUGHT
 
PRAYER

Good and gracious God, as your Apostles, we truly accept the truth that your Son has taught us. Help us not only accept what he taught us, but give us the grace to carry that truth into our daily living. Be with us, we pray. 

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©2007 Capuchin Province of Mid-America
Fr. Mike Scully is a member of the Capuchin Province of Mid-America