What Are You Looking For?

What Are You Looking For?

By Sr. Denise Herrmann, CSA, Pastoral Associate & Director of Liturgy and RCIA

John the Baptist was with two of his own disciples when Jesus walked by. John said, “Behold the Lamb of God.” The two disciples followed Jesus who turned to them and asked, “What are you looking for?” The disciples answered and Jesus responded to them, “Come, and you will see.” (John 1:35-39)

“What are you looking for?” Why are you seeking to become Catholic? These or similar questions are asked of the adults who contact us about starting RCIA (the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults).

This year’s RCIA participants, after being in the process for a while, were asked again to reflect on why they sought to become Catholic. Here are some of their responses:

• In recent years, I have had a growing desire within myself to know Jesus Christ more deeply.
• I seek to grow closer to Jesus, and to experience more of Jesus’ love and presence. I desire to get closer to Mother Mary and other saints which my non-denominational churches did not speak about.
• I want to be on a lifelong path that connects me to the Source of creation. I want a framework for how to live and use my time on earth in a way most pleasing to God. I want my future family to be built around the values of Catholicism. 

“Come, and you will see.” The RCIA participants were asked to do further reflection about being a part of RCIA. Here are some of the things that they have begun to see:

• I already feel more at peace and hopeful, and less tense. I feel that I am in the right place. This will take dedication, but dedication for something I know to be true.
• I believe I am being called to go down this path of discovering God through joining the Catholic Church. It has instilled in me a deeper respect for the faith.
• I sense a closer connection to God and tending to my spiritual life has become part of my daily life.
• I have been happier after beginning to worship God more consistently. Also, I know there is something to come after this life and that this life has a purpose to it. Without God and the future of heaven, life can appear pointless. Knowing this makes me feel hopeless much less frequently.

As these RCIA participants continue to seek initiation into the Church, they need our parish support to respond to Jesus’ instruction “Follow me.” Let us keep them in prayer in hope that they will be blessed with a deepening of faith and can say, as Christ’s disciples said, “We have found…Jesus, son of Joseph, from Nazareth.” (John 1:43, 45)

As Jesus and his beginning disciples conversed, Jesus told them “You will see greater things than this” (John 1:50). May all of us be blessed and open to see and know the great love and mercy of God each day.