WHITE HOUSE JESUIT RETREAT

St. Louis, MO 63129

1-800-643-1003

Jesuit retreat center high on the bluffs of the Mississippi River in St. Louis, MO.  Since 1922, thousands of people from around the world make annual three-day silent, guided retreats here to relax, reconnect with God and strengthen their spirituality.  A true gem in the Midwest!  Call 314-416-6400 or 1-800-643-1003.  Email reservations@whretreat.org  7400 Christopher Rd.  St. Louis, MO 63129

Both men's and women's retreats are offered as well as recovery retreats.

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Weekend Reflections for 1/17/20

January 15, 2020  /  Joe Parisi

In this Sunday's Gospel we learn of the day when it was revealed to John the Baptist that Jesus was God’s anointed, the one for whom John’s life endeavors were preparing his people to receive. The very next day,       (John 1, 35-42), we are told of the role he performs in gaining disciples for Jesus.  When John again sees Jesus walking on the other side of the Jordan River, he tells his disciples that Jesus is the Lamb of God who will take away the sins of the world.

How startling they must have been to hear this.  Why? Because they remembered that when the religious authorities came from Jerusalem to ask John who he was: the Messiah, the prophet who would bring about the kingdom of God and the freedom of the Jewish people from the Roman domination.  John said no, he was not.  But then added that this person had indeed arrived and was already in their midst.

John’s disciples, one of whom was Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, probably realized that John was just not making idle conversation. Rather he was encouraging them, if they were so inclined, to follow Jesus and to find out more about him. Could he possibly be the longed for messiah?  So they decide to follow and investigate Jesus.

The gospel narrative relates how their curiosity is rewarded. Jesus invites them to come and spend the day with him. They did, and this would be an afternoon and encounter they would never forget. After they had spent the afternoon listening to him, discussing and questioning him, the two just wanted to share this most wonderful news with the important people in their lives.  So when they finally departed, they rushed off to share with their companions and relatives what had happened. Suddenly Jesus was becoming the focus of their lives. He was indeed the one that John had been referring to when responding to the religious authorities. And now the two had met him. 

It’s good for us to recall how Jesus has come into our lives.  Who were the one or ones that brought this about for us?  How am I sharing this good news?

-Fr. Jim Blumeyer, SJ