GOD’S WORD FOR THE DAY (based on Catholic Liturgical Readings)
DATE: 15TH JANUARY 2017
SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
FIRST READING: Isaiah 49:3, 5-6
PSALM: Psalm 40:2,4,7-10
SECOND READING: 1Corithians 1:1-3
GOSPEL: John 1:29-34
THEME: LAMB OF GOD
There is always a story and a reason behind names, be it a name given at birth, nickname or some other form of appellation. Some names evoke memories that would make you laugh, others make you cry and there are some too that give enough food for thought and make one to reflect deeply.
As Jesus approached John the Baptist by the Jordan river, John had different possibilities of addressing him. He could have called him, “the Firebrand of God”, “the Grape-crusher”, “the Judge” etc. However, he simply addresses him, “…the Lamb of God…” (Jn 1:29).
John the Baptist was a son of a priest – Zechariah. One can imagine that his father would send him to the temple on several occasions. Little John would see lambs and other animals in the temple precincts being led to the slaughter. Like any good boy, he would point to one of the animals and ask the father, “What is this?” His father would explain, “It is a lamb. It is to be offered as a sacrifice for sins”. His father would narrate to him the story of the Passover lambs of the Exodus whose blood saved Israel (Ex 12); he would also tell him about Abraham and his son Isaac, and the lamb in the thicket ( Gen 22).
In his adulthood, John stood in the Jordan river baptising people for the forgiveness of sins. Upon seeing Jesus he declared, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (Jn. 1:29). In other words, Jesus is the one who has the definitive response to all that is called sin. He does not just massage the wounds caused by sin, He takes sin itself away. This perception and understanding of the mission of Jesus fulfils the prophecy of Isaiah, “I will also make You a light of the nation’s So that My salvation may reach to the end of the earth” (Isa. 49:6).
A heart-surgeon is an expert in heart-related diseases. An eye-specialist is equipped to handle eye problems. In Jesus, we have a sin-specialist. Because of Jesus, sin can be prevented and cured. Yes, “What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and grief to bear; what a privilege to carry, everything to God in prayer!”
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, I turn to you in my weakness. I lay at your feet all my sins and wrongs. Raise me up and let me stand in righteousness. Amen
Andrews Obeng, svd
DIVINE WORD MISSIONARIES
BIBLICAL PASTORAL MINISTRY
(Ghana Province)
“May the darkness of sin and the night of unbelief vanish before the light of the Word and the Spirit of grace. And may the heart of Jesus live in the hearts of all people” (St. Arnold Janssen).