First Reading: Is 49:3, 5-6
The LORD said to me: You are my servant,
Israel, through whom I show my glory.
Now the LORD has spoken
who formed me as his servant from the womb,
that Jacob may be brought back to him
and Israel gathered to him;
and I am made glorious in the sight of the LORD,
and my God is now my strength!
It is too little, the LORD says, for you to be my servant,
to raise up the tribes of Jacob,
and restore the survivors of Israel;
I will make you a light to the nations,
that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 40:2, 4, 7-8, 8-9, 10
R./ Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.
I have waited, waited for the LORD,
and he stooped toward me and heard my cry.
And he put a new song into my mouth,
a hymn to our God.
R./ Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.
Sacrifice or offering you wished not,
but ears open to obedience you gave me.
Holocausts or sin-offerings you sought not;
then said I, "Behold I come."
R./ Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.
"In the written scroll it is prescribed for me,
to do your will, O my God, is my delight,
And your law is within my heart!"
R./ Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.
I announced your justice in the vast assembly;
I did not restrain my lips, as you, O LORD, know.
R./ Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.
Second Reading: 1 Cor 1:1-3
Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,
and Sosthenes our brother,
to the church of God that is in Corinth,
to you who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be holy,
with all those everywhere who call upon the name
of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours.
Grace to you and peace from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Gospel Reading: Jn 1:29-34
John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him and said,
"Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.
He is the one of whom I said,
'A man is coming after me who ranks ahead of me
because he existed before me.'
I did not know him,
but the reason why I came baptizing with water
was that he might be made known to Israel."
John testified further, saying,
"I saw the Spirit come down like a dove from heaven
and remain upon him.
I did not know him,
but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me,
'On whomever you see the Spirit come down and remain,
he is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.'
Now I have seen and testified that he is the Son of God."
Dear brothers and sisters, peace and all good.
Even though we are currently in Cycle A of the liturgical year, reading through the Gospel of Matthew, on certain Sundays we hear excerpts from the Gospel of John. You could say we are looking at the same Jesus, but from a different point of view.
It would be far too little—or at least incomplete—to settle only for the human Jesus or the baby in Bethlehem. Jesus is not just an outstanding leader for humanity, nor is He merely a symbol of some great ideal that the world cannot reach on its own. Jesus is the Savior of everyone who accepts His Word and His Grace.
It is not enough to look at Jesus with human eyes. As Saint John the Baptist taught us, if we don’t want to get stuck halfway, we must contemplate Him through the eyes of faith. He comes to save us by carrying the fragility of us all.
Today’s story continues where we left off last week with the Baptism of the Lord. It takes us back to the Jordan River. John the Baptist wonderfully represents this gaze of faith: “I did not know him, but the Father told me…” It is God the Father who gives us new eyes to see the Living God in Jesus—the Savior who comes to free me from evil, anxiety, sin, and pain.
This is precisely the goal of the Word proclaimed at Mass during these Sundays of Ordinary Time: to push you into the personal adventure of becoming a disciple of Jesus. And to start that journey, the first step is to get close to the person of Jesus.
Clear away your pre-conceived ideas about the Church, about God, about faith, and even about Jesus himself. Approach Him with a clean slate so you can understand what He is like and who He is. Stand by His side. Stop and look at Him. Spend time with Him. You can do this in the silence of a church or in your own home. He is there.
Because of this, I think we are very lucky.
First of all, we are lucky to have a Church that is, thanks to her great tradition, very wise. She is aware that we often struggle to realize what is right in front of us because there are so many distracting lights that stop us from seeing the True Light—the light of Christ. That is why, I believe, she proposes these readings today. Perhaps we don’t remember that last Sunday we encountered the Baptism of Jesus. Just in case, the Gospel of John alludes to that episode and tells us clearly: “I saw the Spirit come down like a dove from heaven and remain upon him.” John leaves no room for doubt: “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.”
shortly, before Communion, we will repeat those very words. The priest will say that those called to the supper of the Lamb are blessed. This means we should be truly joyful, because we can hold God in our hand, receive Him in our mouth, and become one with Him. The Lamb of God gives Himself for us and allows us to leave behind the distance that sin created between us and God. We only need to be attentive and recognize His Light. We can do it, just as John did. We are very fortunate.
Secondly, we are lucky to be members of a holy people. We are not alone on this journey. Paul greets his community in Corinth with these words, adding a nuance that I find important: “to all those everywhere who call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” We are not a closed group, turned inward on ourselves. Like Paul, we are called to be apostles of Jesus Christ. We cannot see Jesus walking down the street among us today, but we have the good fortune of continuing Paul’s work. We can remind people that living as a Christian is worth it. Maybe through words, but above all, through our actions.
Thirdly, we are lucky to have a God who has chosen us from the very beginning. He is a faithful companion on the road. We may feel far away or close to Him, but we always receive His messages. Every day, we can see gestures of hope. Maybe it’s missionaries who choose to stay with the poor in the middle of an armed conflict; maybe it’s a young person spending their free time taking an elderly person to Mass, or a son visiting his sick mother.
Every week, the Liturgy of the Word brings us a letter from God addressed to each one of us. It arrives without delay, it never gets lost in the mail, and there is no extra postage due. It is a light letter, easy to carry, and suited to our understanding and capacity. The faithful God of Jesus always writes to us, even if sometimes we don’t write back.
The prophet Isaiah also received this letter from God. He presented us with a message: He was chosen from his mother’s womb for a specific task. He finds his strength in God to be a light to the world and to gather the nations. When this text was written, Israel was suffering in exile in Babylon. They could not see their future clearly. But God was with them.
We can be like Isaiah. The Lord also chose us before we were born. We also live in a world that is not easy, but we are lucky enough to count on God’s support. If we are willing to read the letter God sends us in every moment, and if we respond with a more committed life, we can shed some light on our surroundings.
We have gone from front to back—from the Gospel to the First Reading. But we haven’t moved backward; we have moved forward. In all these texts, we have found reasons to consider ourselves fortunate. I hope that this luck we have translates into the life of each one of us. We know what we can do to be better, and we are called by God to try.
Let our joy in being His children be seen, and let it turn into a light that can brighten the world’s shadows. Today is all about prophets: John the Baptist pointed to Jesus; Paul dedicated himself to spreading His teaching through much of the known world; and Isaiah was a light for his people. Let us also be prophets of today. And if we fail, let us not forget that we can try again. There will always be another letter, certified and urgent, with our name on it.
I invite you to pay close attention to this Jesus, who will continue passing through your life in the Sunday Word. If you come to understand Him, surely you will say, like Peter: “To whom shall I go? You have the words of eternal life.”
In those moments, try to say to the Lord every now and then—as Jesus did, as Mary did, as the prophets did—“HERE I AM, LORD, TO DO YOUR WILL.”
Stop and contemplate what rises from within you. Jesus is better than you think. He is not playing games to hurt you. You simply have to discover Him as Brother, Friend, and Teacher.
Your brother in faith,
2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)
A. Witness to Jesus Christ
B. Jesus, Lamb of God
Readings:
Is 49:3,5-6; Ps 40:2, 4, 7-8, 8-9, 10
1 Cor 1:1-3; Jn 1:29-34
Commentaries / Gospel Reflections from:
Sundays Into Silence • Preaching the Word • A Certain Jesus
Greeting (See Second Reading)
To you, the holy people of Jesus Christ,
grace and peace from God our Father
and from the Lord Jesus Christ. R/ And also with you.
Introduction by the Celebrant
A. Witness to Jesus Christ
A Christian, a follower and disciple of Christ, is supposed to be someone who tries to be a good witness to Christ in word and deed. The first and great witness to Jesus in the gospel is John the Baptist, who showed him to people. But even John had to acknowledge that at first he did not know who Jesus really was and that he had to be converted, to learn who Jesus was and what he stood for. Only then could he become a firm witness. And we, do we not have to better learn who Jesus is and what he means to us and to people, so that we can become closer to him and attract people to him?
B. Jesus, Lamb of God
Who is Jesus for us? What is the name for us that would best fit him? The disciple of Isaiah called him the Servant of God. St Paul calls him Jesus Christ. John the Baptist points him out as the Lamb of God. Jesus is all these. It implies for us what we have to be with him: servants, saviors, if necessary victims. Let us celebrate this eucharist with Jesus.
Penitential Act
If we would only know the Lord better,
we would not hurt him by our sins.
Let us ask him to forgive us.
(PAUSE)
Lord Jesus, John the Baptist tells us
that you are the Lamb of God
that takes our sins away.
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.
Jesus Christ, John the Baptist recognized
that you were greater than him
and existed before him.
Christ, have mercy. R/ Christ, have mercy.
Lord Jesus, John the Baptist professed
that God's Spirit rested on you
and that you are the Chosen One of God
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.
Have mercy on us, Lord,
forgive us all our sins,
make us know you better
that we may love you more,
and lead us to everlasting life. R/ Amen.
Opening Prayer
A. Witness to Jesus Christ
Let us pray for the courage
to bear witness to Jesus our Lord
(PAUSE)
God our Father,
John the Baptist pointed out your Son
as the Savior of the world,
and yet he had to acknowledge
that he knew Jesus all too little.
We know little about him,
but give us the courage to bear witness
that he takes away the sin of the world
and that he is your chosen One.
Let your Spirit come down also on us
and stay with us,
that our witnessing may be made credible
by the way we live.
We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord. R/ Amen.
B. Jesus, Lamb of God
Let us pray that with Jesus
we may learn to serve God and one another.
(PAUSE)
Our God and Father,
we honor Jesus, your Son in our midst,
with wonderful names: Jesus our Lord,
Lamb of God, servant of God and people.
Let these names not merely be
empty titles of honor among us
but words full of meaning
that commit us to become like him.
Help us to live for one another
and to bear each other's burdens,
that we may be servants with him
who is our Lord for ever and ever. R/ Amen.
Liturgy of the Word
First Reading Introduction: Servant of God and Light of the Nations
A servant of God will come and be the light not only of Israel but of all the nations. The Christian community recognized Jesus as this servant.
Second Reading Introduction: Called to Bear Witness to Jesus the Lord
As an apostle, St Paul considered himself a servant whose task was to proclaim Jesus Christ as the Lord of all. Is Jesus the Lord of our lives? Do we proclaim him as our Lord?
Gospel Introduction: Look, There Is the Lamb of God
John the Baptist bears witness that Jesus is the Savior, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Jesus is the promised servant of God and people.
General Intercessions
We are supposed to be the holy people of Jesus Christ, and called to pray to our Lord with and for all people. Let us say to Jesus: R/ Son of the living God, have mercy on us.
- Lord Jesus, look upon your hesitant Church. Let your Spirit come down upon it to give it the dynamism to preach you boldly and to offer your forgiveness to all., we pray: R/ Son of the living God, have mercy on us.
- Lord Jesus, see all the parents whose children are baptized. May they come to know you better and lead their children to you and to your love, we pray: R/ Son of the living God, have mercy on us.
- Lord Jesus, see all the people who are hungry and suffer from sickness, torture or loneliness. Do not let the sin of the world crush them, we pray: R/ Son of the living God, have mercy on us.
- Lord Jesus, see all the people who do not yet recognize you and your light. Show your face to them through the words and actions of those who serve you, we pray: R/ Son of the living God, have mercy on us.
- Lord Jesus, see us sinners and accept us. Sin is at times stronger than we. Let your grace be stronger than our sins, we pray: R/ Son of the living God, have mercy on us.
Lord Jesus, let the fire which you have enkindled in our world prompt us all to bear witness to your love. Hear us, our living Lord, now and for ever. R/ Amen.
Prayer Over the Gifts
Our God and Father,
in these signs of bread and wine
your Son will give himself to us
as our Lamb and your servant.
At his table he will serve us himself
as our food and drink.
Shape us in his likeness,
that with him we may give our all
to those around us, and become
forgiving, helping and serving,
uplifting and encouraging.
Let us indeed be the people
in whom Jesus Christ lives,
our Lord and Savior for ever. R/ Amen.
Introduction to the Eucharistic Prayer
With Jesus, we give thanks to the Father for the forgiveness and life brought to us. With Jesus, we, too, offer ourselves, that we may become servants of God and each other.
Invitation to the Lord's Prayer
As the holy people of Jesus Christ,
we call on God our Father
in the words of Jesus himself. R/ Our Father...
Deliver Us
Deliver us, Lord, from our selfishness
in whatever form this root of sin appears in us
and help us to grow in the likeness of your Son.
Let him be the Lord and center of our lives,
open us to his life and love,
that we may always expect without fear
our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. R/ For the kingdom...
Invitation to Communion
The words of John the Baptist
are spoken to us now:
This is the Lamb of God
who takes away the sin of the world.
He is the chosen one of God,
our Lord and Savior.
Happy are we to receive him. R/ Lord, I am not worthy...
Prayer after Communion
Our God and Father,
your Son Jesus stays among us
to heal and to save.
Fill us with his strength,
that we may go on doing what he did,
quietly and unobtrusively.
Make us more aware
that you have entrusted his work to us
and that we are your way to people,
on account of Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives with you and with us for ever. R/ Amen.
Blessing
God sends you now
to be his presence in today's world.
Go and tell to those you meet
the wonders he has done for you,
and bring his love and peace
to all those around you.
And may almighty God bless you all:
the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. R/ Amen.
Let the Lord Jesus Christ go with you
on all your ways. R/ Thanks be to God.
