My vocation is quite similar to that of Simon Peter in the gospel reading. I do not have any inkling of what life is all about inside the seminary. Although I have encountered a lot of priests who encouraged me to take the entrance exam for the seminary, I never gave it a try. Until one day a former student of my mother came for a visit and narrated stories about his seminary life. From his personal experiences in the seminary, I imagined that seminary life must be fun. He was the one who introduced me to the seminary life; he paved the way for me to enter religious life. In a way, he was the one who invited me to “come and see.”

I “went and saw” how it is to prepare oneself to become a priest. It took many years of formation, intellectually, spiritually, physically, emotionally, psychologically. My seminary life is tantamount to how the disciples grew in their faith in following Jesus, listening to his teachings, encountering him everyday, amazed and astounded to all of his miracles.

Mind you, my formation is ongoing up until today. To desire intimacy with the Lord is an objective all throughout my life as an ordained minister.

It is also good to note that It was John who introduced Andrew to Jesus when John pointed out “Behold the Lamb of God!” Therefore, Andrew and another disciple started following Jesus. After which, it will be Andrew who will give an inkling of who Jesus is to his brother Simon Peter when he declared, “We have seen the Messiah!” And then taking Simon Peter to Jesus to introduce him.

My brothers and sisters in Christ, all of us have experienced Jesus in a lot of ways. And with such experiences and encounters in prayers in the church, in liturgical celebrations or in listening to his words in the proclamation of the Scriptures, our faith grows, deepened and strengthened. But our faith must not remain only for us, it must be shared to others. Like John we should be pointing others to Jesus. Not only declaring “there is the Lamb of God,” but “there is my loving and merciful Lord, go and follow him!” We who have experienced many blessings and graces from the Lord, we who are ardent followers of Jesus must invite and bring others to him so that they, too, will encounter Jesus, experience his loving care and guidance, receive his countless blessings and protection.

My brothers and sisters, when was the last time you brought back someone to attend mass again? When was the last time you accompanied someone back to the faith because of your ardent prodding and witnessing to the faith? How many people have you encouraged from a lukewarm and weak faith to a happy and strong catholic life?

On my part, I am trying everyday to bring peoples to Jesus in my words, in my deeds. Hoping that in my everyday witnessing to his Love, in my ministry ad a priest in my preaching, I am bringing people to have faith in Jesus and follow him.