1 Samuel 3:3-10, 19 / 1 Cor 6:13-15, 17-20 / John 1:35-42
In life, we have many needs. In fact, from the moment we are conceived, we immediately have needs.
In our mother's womb, we have needs for nourishment, warmth, love and protection.
From the moment we are born, we cry out in need. We need nourishment, we need to be kept warm, we need to be cared for, we need to be protected.
Even as we grow and develop in life, our basic needs are always there.
We need food, clothing and shelter, as well as security and protection.
As we grow and mature in life, we may not cry out like babies or children for these basic needs.
Instead, we will work and strive to meet these needs.
When we are able to meet these needs, it does not mean that we will be contented and satisfied.
Because, the next level of needs will come along.
So, we will look at our place in society, and what we want to achieve in life.
What will come along will be financial security and emotional security.
We want to have a stable and secure job, we want to be independent, we will think about companionship and marriage to fulfil our emotional needs.
In short, when our basic needs in life are achieved, what we will look for is meaning and direction in life.
We want to live life with a purpose, and even to “give back to society”, and to help others in their need.
In the gospel, the two disciples of John the Baptist were also looking for meaning, direction and purpose in life.
They saw in John the Baptist, as someone who has found the meaning and the purpose of life.
But John the Baptist knew that more than just having meaning and purpose, he had a mission in life.
He knows that there is someone coming after him, someone who is greater than he is, and his mission is to point out that someone.
So, when Jesus came along, John the Baptist looked hard and intensely at him.
And then he proclaimed to his disciples: Look, there is the Lamb of God.
The two disciples knew what he meant, and they went and followed Jesus.
Jesus turned around, saw them following, and ask them a straightforward question: What do you want?
The two disciples knew what they wanted, and they were equally straightforward with their response: Rabbi, where do you live?
That straightforward and frank exchange between Jesus and the two disciples is enough to make us think.
Just as He asked the two disciples, Jesus is also asking us: What do you want?
Yes, what do we want in life? Well, there are many things we want in life.
For students who just got their “O” Level results, they would want to go to the school of their choice. Or, for some students, they may have to think of something else.
Other than that, we want financial and emotional security, we want to be happy, we want to be healthy.
Yes, we want all that. But, what is it that we really need?
We may need to look at John the Baptist who stepped aside and even fade it off when Jesus came into the scene.
For John the Baptist, his food, clothing and shelter were not much to begin with. He also didn’t have much material securities in life.
But, he had a purpose in life. He had a mission in life.
He is the prophet who would point out Jesus the Saviour for others.
One of his famous quotes is this: He must increase, I must decrease.
For John the Baptist, he followed the tradition of the prophets before him, by listening and looking at what and where God is pointing to.
Like the prophet Samuel in the first reading, it is this: Speak Lord, your servant is listening.
John the Baptist has shown us what we really need in life. And that is to listen, and look at what and where the Lord is pointing us to.
Then we will know what is our purpose and mission in life.
Then we will be happy, we will be contented, we will be at peace.