What Are You Looking For?

Begin this lesson with the wishing game to get the group thinking about their own desires. Explain the rules clearly and give each youth a chance to share. The point is not to judge or evaluate their wishes but to let them express what they think would make their lives better. Be sure to allow enough time so that everyone has the opportunity to participate. You can find the full instructions for the game here: [Opening Game: Wishing Game Instructions].

Imagine you have found a genie who will grant you three wishes. You can ask for anything you want, but there are two rules. First, these wishes must only be for you personally. Second, you cannot ask for more wishes. So if world peace or helping the poor is your first thought, that’s wonderful, but this genie is only about you right now. What would you wish for? Take a moment to think, and then we’ll go around so each person can share.

Give each person an opportunity to share.

Thank you for sharing your wishes. This game helps us see the kinds of things we think would make life better or happier. Sometimes they are simple things, like a fun trip or new clothes. Other times they are big dreams, like success or comfort. These wishes show us what our hearts lean toward when there are no limits. It’s interesting to notice the mix of answers and how different people’s desires can be.

Now we are going to move from this game into something deeper. In the Gospel, Jesus asks two disciples a simple but important question: “What are you looking for?” Just like the genie game, He is asking them to think about what they really want. But His question goes beyond surface wishes. It points to the deeper longings in their hearts, the ones that go beyond money, fun, or comfort.

As we listen to the Scripture, think back to the wishes you shared. Do any of them connect with the deeper things you want in life? Are you searching for belonging, love, peace, or meaning? Jesus’ question invites us to look past the quick answers and really consider where our hearts are leading us. Keep that in mind as we hear His words.

John 1:35-42 (John the Baptist points out Jesus) – the Gospel Reading for the 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year B

John was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he said, “Behold, the Lamb of God.” The two disciples heard what he said and followed Jesus.

Jesus turned and saw them following him and said to them, “What are you looking for?”

They said to him, “Rabbi” – which translated means Teacher – “where are you staying?”

He said to them, “Come, and you will see.”

So they went and saw where Jesus was staying, and they stayed with him that day.

It was about four in the afternoon. Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, was one of the two who heard John and followed Jesus. He first found his own brother Simon and told him, “We have found the Messiah” – which is translated Christ. Then he brought him to Jesus.

Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John; you will be called Cephas” – which is translated Peter.

John 1:35-42

When Jesus turned to the two disciples and asked, “What are you looking for?”, He wasn’t asking if they lost their sandals or dropped something on the road. He was asking them about their hearts. He wanted them to think about what they truly wanted in life. Jesus’ question wasn’t meant to get a simple answer. It was meant to make them stop and wonder, “What am I really searching for?” That’s a question He asks each of us too.

Back then, many people were looking for a strong leader. The Jewish people were living under Roman rule. They were tired of being pushed down, taxed heavily, and treated unfairly. Some dreamed of a Messiah who would come like a warrior, leading an army to overthrow the Romans and give them their freedom back. They were hoping for someone who could crush their enemies and fix their problems in one big moment of victory.

We might not be living under Roman rule, but sometimes we look for the same kind of savior. Maybe you’ve wished that God would just swoop in and make somebody who hurt you pay for what they did. Maybe you’ve imagined a kind of “holy justice” where the person who embarrassed you or made fun of you would get embarrassed in return. Or maybe you’ve wanted to take control of a situation where you felt powerless, wishing God would step in and hand you all the control. But that’s not the way Jesus came. He didn’t arrive with soldiers or swords. He didn’t come to fight human battles with violence or revenge. He came to bring a different kind of freedom, one that goes deeper than winning a fight.

So let me ask you: have you ever wanted someone who hurt you to be humiliated? Have you ever hoped for someone to fail, just because they hurt your feelings? Have you tried to control something because you were afraid of being weak? Those are honest feelings. We’ve all had them. But instead of acting on those feelings, what would it look like to ask Jesus into them? You could pray, “Jesus, I feel angry and hurt. Please help me respond the way you would.” He doesn’t take away the hurt instantly, but He helps us carry it and turn it into something that leads us closer to Him.

There’s another way people at the time might have answered Jesus’ question. Instead of power, maybe they wanted comfort. Life was not easy for the disciples. They worked long hours fishing or laboring just to get by. Some people thought the Messiah would bring wealth, comfort, and an easier life. Maybe they dreamed that following the Messiah meant no more struggles, no more hunger, no more worries.

Don’t we sometimes think like that too? Maybe you’ve prayed for life to be easier. You’ve asked God to make a problem disappear, or to give you exactly what you wanted. And sometimes it feels like those prayers go unanswered. That can leave us frustrated or confused. It might even make you wonder if God is listening at all. But Jesus doesn’t usually show up at your front door with a pile of cash or a magic solution. Instead, He offers something better. He offers His presence, His love, and His guidance. He teaches us to lean on Him, not just to have things go our way.

Here’s something to think about: have you ever tried praying not for more things, but with gratitude for what you already have? Gratitude can shift our hearts. It helps us see that God is already giving us blessings every single day. Maybe the answer to our prayers isn’t always “yes” because God has something even more important planned for us.

Now think about how the disciples answered Jesus. He asked, “What are you looking for?” and they said, “Where are you staying?” At first, it sounds like they just wanted an address. But maybe they were asking something deeper. Maybe they wanted to know where His heart was, where He lived not just physically, but spiritually. And what did they discover? They found that Jesus’ heart was with the poor, the broken, and those left out. His heart was with the people nobody else cared about. That’s where He lived.

So let me ask you: if someone asked you, “Where do you live?”—not your street or house, but your heart—how would you answer? Where does your heart live? Think about what takes up most of your time each day. Think about what excites you most. Think about what you daydream about, or the moments when you feel most alive. Those answers show you where your heart is. Now ask yourself, does your heart live in the same neighborhood as Jesus’ heart?

The best news is this: God doesn’t want you to erase your personality or stop being yourself. He doesn’t want you to become somebody completely different. He gave you your gifts, your talents, and even your quirks for a reason. What He asks is that you use those things for His Kingdom. Jesus’ heart lives in the Kingdom of God, a place of love, service, and justice. And He invites you to join Him there with your own heart.

So when you hear Jesus asking, “What are you looking for?”, don’t be afraid to really think about it. Let your answer grow and change as you grow and change. Ask Him to guide your desires so they match up with His. That’s how you begin to live with Jesus, not just knowing where He stays, but sharing in His heart.

When it is time to move into small groups, remind everyone that this is a safe space for honest sharing. Encourage each person to listen with respect and kindness. No one should feel pressured to give a “perfect” answer. The goal is not to debate or correct each other, but to listen and learn from one another’s experiences. Invite each person to share at least once, but allow them to pass if they are not ready to speak.

• What are some things you find yourself wishing for when life feels hard?
• How do you usually respond when someone hurts you or makes you feel powerless?
• Have you ever prayed for something and felt like God did not answer the way you expected? How did that affect your faith?
• When you think about your heart, what do you spend most of your time and energy on each day?
• What activities, people, or places make you feel most alive and closest to God?
• How do you think Jesus is inviting you to use your gifts and talents in His Kingdom?
• If Jesus asked you right now, “What are you looking for?”, how would you answer Him today?

This week, your challenge is to take the question “What are you looking for?” with you into your everyday life. Each morning, before you get busy with school or activities, take a quiet moment and ask yourself, “What am I really looking for today?” Be honest with your answer. Maybe it’s good grades, winning a game, or just making it through the day. Then bring that answer to Jesus in a short prayer, even if it’s only a sentence like, “Jesus, help me seek you in this.”

To live this out in real ways, try two simple things. First, choose one time each day to pray in gratitude. Thank God for three specific blessings, big or small. This helps you notice where your heart is already full. Second, pick one action that shows your heart is moving closer to Jesus. Maybe that means being kind to someone who usually annoys you, or giving up a few minutes to help at home without being asked. These small steps help your desires line up with God’s heart.

Let’s take a moment to quiet our hearts and place ourselves in God’s presence. We’ve spent this time thinking about what we are truly looking for in life. Now we bring those thoughts and desires to Jesus, who knows us and loves us.

Lord Jesus, you asked your disciples, “What are you looking for?” We hear you asking us the same question today. Sometimes our answers are unclear, and sometimes our desires lead us in the wrong direction. Help us to bring our hearts back to you.

Teach us to seek you in all that we do. Show us how to use our gifts and our energy to live in your Kingdom. Help us find joy in serving others and peace in following your way.

We give you our dreams, our fears, and our hopes. Stay with us as you stayed with your first disciples. Guide us to live close to your heart each day. Amen.

Themes

• Seeking God’s Will: Jesus asks, “What are you looking for?” to help us think about our true desires. In Catholic life, we are called to ask what God wants for us, not just what we want for ourselves. This helps us follow His plan with trust.
• Living with Purpose: Our faith teaches that life is not random. God gives each of us a mission and talents to use for His Kingdom. By looking deeper at our desires, we discover how to live with meaning.
• Following Jesus’ Call: The disciples responded to Jesus by staying with Him. We are also invited to spend time with Jesus and walk with Him daily. This is how discipleship begins and grows.
• Gratitude in Prayer: Many times we ask God for what we want. Catholic teaching also reminds us to thank God for what we already have. Gratitude keeps our hearts open and humble.
• Service to Others: Jesus’ heart is with the poor and the left out. We are called to care for those who are often forgotten. Serving others helps us live closer to Jesus’ heart.
• Freedom from Control: People often want power over others or over situations. Jesus shows us another way, one built on trust and love. Faith helps us let go of control and find peace in God.
• Growing in Trust: The disciples did not know what would happen next, but they followed Jesus anyway. Catholic life calls us to trust even when we do not have all the answers. This builds courage and hope.
• Using Our Gifts: God does not ask us to change who we are. He asks us to use our gifts and strengths for His work. This brings joy and helps us build up the Church.
• Deeper Desires of Heart: Surface wishes may be for comfort or success. The Gospel reminds us that our deepest longings are for love, peace, and God Himself. Recognizing this helps us live more faithfully.
• Invitation to Conversion: Jesus invites the disciples to “come and see.” This same invitation is given to us every day. Conversion happens when we accept His call and allow Him to change our hearts.
• Community in Faith: Andrew went and told his brother Simon about Jesus. Our faith is not meant to stay private but to be shared. Building community strengthens us and brings others closer to Christ.

Background Material

In the Gospel of John, the first words Jesus speaks are a question: “What are you looking for?” (John 1:38). This is not a small question. It points to the deep desires of the human heart. The disciples who followed Jesus had been listening to John the Baptist, and now they were invited to think about what they truly wanted. This passage shows us that the call to follow Christ begins with honest searching. It is about asking what we really long for and bringing those longings to God.

Throughout Scripture, we see that God cares about the desires of His people. The Psalms say, “Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4). This does not mean God grants every wish like a genie. It means that when our hearts rest in God, our desires begin to line up with His will. This lesson helps youth connect their own wishes and dreams to that truth.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church reminds us that this desire for God is built into every person. “The desire for God is written in the human heart, because man is created by God and for God; and God never ceases to draw man to himself” (CCC 27). Even when we are looking for other things—success, comfort, or control—our deepest longing is for God. This is why Jesus’ question is so important. It calls us to look past surface wants and notice the deeper hunger for His presence.

In Catholic teaching, following Jesus is a response to that hunger. The disciples did not give a straight answer when He asked, “What are you looking for?” Instead, they asked where He was staying. This shows that they wanted to know more than His address. They wanted to live with Him, to see where His heart was. This reflects our call as disciples too. We are invited to stay with Jesus, to learn from Him, and to share in His mission.

Jesus’ heart is with the poor, the outcast, and the broken. He shows us that true desire is not about wealth or control, but about love and service. The Church teaches that our gifts and talents are meant to be used in building God’s Kingdom. Saint Paul writes, “To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit” (1 Corinthians 12:7). This means that our personal strengths are not just for ourselves but for others. By living this way, our desires are shaped into something greater.

This lesson plan fits into Catholic teaching by helping youth see that their longings matter to God. It gives them the chance to think about what they want most in life and then compare that to what Jesus calls them to seek. It reminds them that prayer is not only asking but also listening. It points them to gratitude, trust, and service as ways to direct their desires toward God.

At its heart, this lesson shows that Jesus’ question, “What are you looking for?”, is still alive today. It helps young people understand that their deepest desires find meaning in Him. By reflecting on this question, they can grow closer to Christ and live out their faith with purpose.

Music Suggestions

• Servant Song
• Lord I Need You
• Take My Life
• I Will Choose Christ
• Be Thou My Vision