Second Sunday of Ordinary Time -B
For cradle Catholics, the idea of discovering God is something rarely reflected upon because they grew up with others telling them that God exists and he loves them. The notion of conversion is equally ignored because they think conversion is only reserved for unbelievers. The theologian Thomas Merton penned a thought hitting right at the heart of this assumption. “We are not converted only once in our lives but many times, and this endless series of large and small conversions, inner revolutions, leads finally to our transformation in Christ.”
In the first reading and the Gospel designated for the Second Sunday of Ordinary Time, we recall when Samuel and the first Apostles encountered God, which is the first step in any conversion. We are told Samuel heard a call and was pretty confident it was the older Eli calling him because, at that time, the young man was unfamiliar with the Lord. Samuel is called a second and third time. Only when Eli understood that the call was from God did Samuel start listening for God to speak again to him.
The Gospel relates a similar situation. St. John the Baptist helped Andrew and the other disciples discover God by crying out as Jesus walked by them, “Behold, the Lamb of God.” The sight of Jesus so took Andrew that he sought out his brother Simon and encouraged him to follow by claiming, “We have found the Messiah.” When Simon met Jesus, the Lord immediately changed his name to Cephas, translated as Peter.
In both instances, any conversion starts with an encounter with God, whether the encounter is directly initiated by God or through agents he uses to introduce him to others, much like Eli and St. John the Baptist. After the encounter, a person is then invited into his life. When the Lord spoke to Samuel again, he answered without confusion, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” Samuel accepted the Lord’s invitation and was different than before because now he identified himself as his faithful servant.
Samuel was not the only one to change after God’s invitation was offered. Simon, Andrew’s brother, accepted Jesus’ invitation by having his name changed, symbolic of the fact that Simon was a fisherman in his old life, and his new one would be identified as a fisher of men. After the invitation is accepted, the old life is cast away, and the new is accepted, changing the person being converted.
Once the invitation is accepted and the old life has been cast away, the new life reflects a life in God by the desire and motivation to share and introduce God’s life with others. “When Samuel grew up, and the Lord was with him, not permitting any word of his to be without effect.” It was also true with Andrew, who told his brother, “We have found the Messiah.”
At this point, we try to learn from the biblical stories and apply the meaning to our lives by asking ourselves, “How will I know whether I need to be converted?” The answer will be reminiscent of an examination of our conscience. Are there times when I have moved away from God and do not notice him daily? Do I need to reencounter him anew? Have there been times recently when God’s invitation to meet him in more intense prayer or by missing the opportunity to help those around instead of doing what I prefer? Have I been remiss in talking about the greatness of God with my family and friends or working to build up his Kingdom on earth?
We know we need a small or large conversion if the encounter, invitation, or desire to share God’s grace is missing. Merton is right; throughout life, Christians must enter into small and large conversions, leading to the transformation in Christ. Refusing to accept the need to convert will only lead to the transformation of ourselves devoid of God’s grace, a place we would not wish for anyone.