HOMILIES

Dear Audience,
For better understanding of the spiritual message behind this homily I kindly remind you to first read and contemplate the biblical texts before reading or listening to my preaching - a human reflection on the Word of God!

Second Sunday of Ordinary Time (Year A)

Jan 19, 2014

4053

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First Reading

A reading from the Book of Prophet Isaiah (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.

(P) The word of the Lord.
(R) Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalms of David (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)

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)

"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)

I announced your justice in the vast assembly; I did not restrain my lips, as you, O Lord, know. (R)

Second Reading

A reading from the first Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians (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.

(P) The word of the Lord.
(R) Thanks be to God.

Gospel

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John (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".

(P) The Gospel of the Lord.
(R) Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Homily

Once, a monk saw a man searching for something on the ground outside his house. He asked the man, "What are you searching?" "I am looking for my key", he said. The monk also joined in the search and after a few minutes he asked the man: "Where exactly did you drop it?" The man answered: "In my house." "Then why are you looking here?" the monk asked. "Oh! There is more light here than in my house," replied the man.

Friends, the only cause of losing peace and joy is sin. Therefore, it is only by dealing with our sin that true peace and joy can be found. In other words, we must look for our key in the place exactly where we have lost it.

Last week we looked at who Jesus is and what he has come to do. Isaiah introduces the Messiah as the Servant of God who has come to enlighten everyone on Earth and liberate all people from sin and darkness. Now Jesus' time of preparation is over. He has been baptized by John. He has gone through a period of temptation. Now he begins his ministry of preaching the good news. And now John knowing his time is coming to an end introduces Jesus to his own disciples, "Behold, the Lamb of God!" After John's introduction, the disciples are to look to Jesus. John also gives them reasons for following Jesus:

Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Why is Jesus referred to as a lamb? If you are one of those people who are far removed from the rural setting, perhaps the word "lamb" may not mean anything in your life. But certainly it had great significance for the people of Jesus' time, especially since the people of Israel must have understood what it meant to them. Lambs were living symbols of innocence. For every Jew a lamb was associated with the Passover - it was the most common sacrificial animal offered in the Temple to atone for sins. In today's society, the idea of using an animal as a sacrifice is perhaps cruel and unacceptable, yet it was what God commanded His people to do. He wanted to teach the people and impress on their minds that there is no forgiveness of sin or redemption without the shedding of innocent blood. So when John exclaimed, "Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world," their minds and hearts would have been stirred by the sacrificial image. They may have wondered why and how Jesus' death would pay for all their sins and wash away their guilt.
Jesus is the Supreme Being. He existed before everyone else and he is above everyone. John tried to prepare the people for the coming of the Supreme Being through baptism. He asked them to prepare their own hearts for what God was going to do for them and in them through Jesus.
Jesus is the Spirit filled person upon whom the Spirit of God has descended and will remain with. He is the Chosen One. John recalls the time when the Spirit came upon Jesus during his baptism and now testifies that the Spirit will stay with Jesus as he begins his ministry after his temptations in the wilderness.
Jesus is the Son of God. John the Baptist wants his disciples to be clear about who Jesus is. Jesus has the closest personal relationship with God the Father than anybody could possibly have. John has no doubt that Jesus is the Messiah whom they have been waiting for.

Today's gospel ends with John's introduction and description of Jesus. However, the text following today's gospel records something important. It goes on to say that, the next day as Jesus walks by, John calls out to his disciples and confirms that Jesus is indeed the Lamb of God. So he tells his disciples a second time, "Behold, the Lamb of God." This time two of his disciples hear what he says and voluntarily follow Jesus as if they were searching for something important - perhaps a meaning and purpose in their lives or for something they have lost. Jesus turns around, sees them following him and asks, "What do you want?" They answer, "Teacher, where do you live?" He replies, "Come and see"; so they go and see where he lives, and stay with him that day, John (1:37-39). It is said that the next day Andrew, one of the two disciples, goes and looks for his brother Simon Peter and tells him that they have found the Messiah. And so, Andrew introduces Jesus to Simon Peter. We know what becomes of Peter. Jesus gives Peter a new identity: You are Simon son of John; you are to be called Cephas which means Rock.

What is the message for us?

John's description of Jesus is brief but gives us a very clear picture of who Jesus is. Jesus is the Lamb of God. He takes away our sins. He is before and above everyone. He is filled with the Holy Spirit and he is the Son of God. Hence, Jesus is the one we are to look to for cleansing, healing, guidance, courage, comfort, forgiveness and peace.

Friends, no doubt we have already been baptized in the name of Christ and have come to believe that Christ is the Savior of the world. That's why we are here today and every day. However we may be one of those men and women who have professed our faith for many years and yet still wandering around looking for something, unaware of what we are looking for - perhaps for something to fill our life. If you are, then here he is: Behold, the Lamb of God! If we humbly and courageously confess our sins he forgives and takes away all our guilt and gives us peace. If we read and meditate upon his word he brings us out of darkness. If we choose to follow him he shapes our life. If we surrender to him he offers us abundant life. If we truly believe in him he makes us right with him and others and ourselves. But so many of us lose the opportunity to experience the power of God in Jesus or abandon our faith in him because often we seem to focus more on Mother Mary and other saints rather than Jesus himself. Many of us are also looking to popes, bishops, priests, parents and others who introduced Jesus to us but forget Jesus Christ and his teachings. We forget that every believer including Mother Mary, the saints and leaders of our church are only witnesses of their faith in Jesus Christ.

Friends, now that we have been introduced to our Lord and Savior and what he can do for us, it is now up to us to look to Jesus for our redemption and eternal peace and joy. It is up to us to follow Jesus like the disciples of John did and say why we follow him, who we are, what we want from him and allow him to shape our life. Do you want to look to Jesus? Do you believe in John's description of Jesus? And will you let Jesus our Savior save you from sin and the darkness of life.

(P) Amen.

God Bless You!

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