Encounter

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An audio meditation in John’s Gospel using Lectio Divina and Imaginative Contemplation, John 1:39-42.

In these verses in John 1, we get a short glimpse of a brief, rather ordinary, and entirely transformative meeting.

I picture this story happening near the Jordan river where John is baptising, announcing that the Kingdom of Heaven has come near, inviting people to go down into the water as a symbol of readiness to step into a new, fresh movement of the spirit. Thousands of people come from all over to hear what John is preaching, to go down into the water and physically express their availability for this new thing.

Simon and Andrew, brothers and fishermen, have travelled across from the Galilee, Jesus has come from Nazareth. Perhaps there are hundreds of tents, or campsites, circled by various gatherings. A bit of a festival feeling.

And here we learn that Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter who would be among Jesus’ 12 disciples, was first a disciple of John the Baptist. Andrew is right at the centre of this movement, staying close to John, following him closely, entirely ready to encounter the coming One John speaks of.

Andrew was one of the two who heard John say “Look, here is the Lamb of God”, and it was Andrew who followed Jesus that day, asking where he was staying, and going to spend the day with him.

As the afternoon draws towards evening, Andrew is convinced that this Jesus is the Messiah (though his understanding of Messiah would continue to grow for decades to come), and he goes to his find his brother Simon in the crowd, and brings him back to Jesus.

Jesus sees Simon, identifies him, and there in that moment, gives him a new name: Cephas, which translates to Peter and means rock.

A few side facts and legends about Andrew:

Andrew, whose name is not Hebrew but Greek, as Pope Benedict pointed out, suggests that his parents were fairly broad-minded. Andrew was one of Jesus’ closer disciples, and would eventually be subject to death by crucifixion. Legend has it that Andrew refused to be martyred in the same manner as Jesus, so his cross was turned a few degrees to be an X. This is reflected in the white X on the Scottish flag, as St Andrew is the patron saint of Scotland. Now you know!

Blessings, always, as you pray.

Contemplative at Home offers guided meditative prayer – space to slow down and listen to the truth that is being born out of God’s love for you today – drawing on Ignatian spirituality and at times, Lectio Divina.

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All music by Pete Hatch.