SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR A

Isaiah 49:3.5-6

Psalm 40

1Corinthians 1:1-3

John 1:29-34

THE CHOSEN SERVANT

Dear brothers and sisters, in today’s liturgy, we note that instead of a gospel passage from St Matthew as we do in the ordinary Sundays of Year A, the Church proposes instead a passage from the evangelist John (John 1:29-34). And curiously, it is the only passage where the evangelist talks about “the Holy Spirit coming down on Jesus like a dove from heaven”, an image that reminds us of Jesus’ baptism, which we celebrated few days ago. Thus, today’s readings manifest clearly the transition from the Christmas season to the Ordinary Time. For this reason, I would like to underline two things for our meditation. 

First, John the Baptist identifies Jesus as the Lamb of God and the Son of God. With these significant titles, John introduces Jesus to his Jewish listeners as the Promised Messiah. But he posits that Jesus is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. This signifies that Jesus is the Servant who will take upon himself the sin of the whole world, that is, of humanity. We may see here the fulfilment of what the prophet Isaiah said: “It is too little, says the Lord, 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” (Is. 49:6). Therefore, as God’s Chosen, Jesus Christ has come to save us and reveal God’s forgiving love to all. 

Finally, it is noteworthy that this universal dimension of Christ’s saving work has been realized thanks to the proclamation of the Apostles. Like Saint Paul, the Apostles were called and sent to preach the Good News to all.

Today’s readings remind us therefore of our mission during this Ordinary Time: we are called to make known God’s salvation to all. This way, each of us may identify himself in the words of Isaiah: “You are my servant, Israel, through whom I show my glory”. Each of us is a chosen vessel of God; through us, he wants to reveal his glory to the world. Let us pray that he may make each of us a living testimony of his wondrous love and mercy. Amen.