Second Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)

Second Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)
Is 49:3-6, Ps 40:2-10, 1 Cor 1:1-3, Jn 1:29-34
Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will

Dear brethren, as we reflect on the joyful and profound celebrations of Christmas, Epiphany, and the Baptism of the Lord, the Liturgy gracefully guides us into the season of Ordinary Time. Yet, today’s scriptural readings remind us that our vocation as Christians is anything but ordinary. Each of us is CALLED, KNOWN, and SENT by GOD, entrusted with a MISSION that transcends our individual selves and extends into the very fabric of the world around us.

In the First Reading, we encounter the words of the Prophet Isaiah, who speaks of a servant chosen by God even from the womb. This servant is charged not only with the task of restoring Israel but also with becoming “a light to the nations” so that God’s salvation may “reach to the ends of the earth.” This profound message serves as a powerful reminder that God’s divine plan has always embraced a universal scope. His love and compassion are not confined to a single group, culture, or nation; from the dawn of creation, God has yearned for the salvation of every person. Each one of us is intricately formed, known, and chosen by God long before we even began to recognise His presence in our lives. Your existence is not merely a fluke. Your faith is not a coincidence. God has entrusted you with the radiant light of truth, not to conceal it, but to share it boldly with the world. In a society where darkness frequently manifests as corruption, violence, social injustice, despair, and fractured families, God still calls out to His people, “I will make you a light.”

The Responsorial Psalm teaches us the appropriate response to God’s call: that of availability and obedience. God does not seek mere outward displays of devotion, empty rituals, or superficial acts of sacrifice if our hearts are disengaged from Him. What God earnestly desires is an obedient heart, one that is attuned to His will and ready to respond. Many of us engage in prayer, yet beneath the surface, we often harbour the desire for God to bless our own plans rather than fully surrendering to His divine will. The psalm challenges us to respond genuinely and wholeheartedly with, “Here am I, Lord.” Not “Here am I when it is convenient,” or “Here am I when life is easy,” but rather, “Here am I, prepared to fulfil your will.” True worship manifests itself through our active obedience to God’s calling.

In the Second Reading, Saint Paul eloquently reminds us that we are sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy. Holiness is not an exclusive privilege reserved for priests, religious figures, or saints whose names we find in sacred texts; rather, it is the sacred vocation of every baptised individual, whether you are a parent, a young person, a worker, a leader, or a student. To pursue holiness does not imply perfection; it means belonging to God and allowing His grace to shape our daily decisions, words, relationships, and moral compass. St. Paul graciously opens his letter with wishes for grace and peace. Without the gift of grace, the pursuit of holiness becomes an insurmountable challenge. Without peace, our faith can feel burdensome.

Today’s Gospel illuminates the heart of our message. St. John the Baptist, a pivotal figure in the narrative, directs attention away from himself, proclaiming, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” This title is rich in significance and layered in meaning. The reference to the Lamb evokes the imagery of the Passover sacrifice, the innocent victim whose blood provided freedom and hope. Jesus embodies the ultimate fulfilment of this Passover, as He takes away, rather than merely covering, the sin of the world. John the Baptist admits, “I did not know him,” yet he recognises Jesus when the Holy Spirit descends upon Him. This teaches us a vital lesson: true knowledge of Jesus transcends mere intellectual understanding; it is realised through the transformative work of the Holy Spirit.

Faith is not simply an accumulation of information about Jesus but rather a profound revelation, an encounter and a witness. The mission of John the Baptist was both simple and powerful: to make Jesus known. This mission is our calling as Christians today, not necessarily achieved through grand proclamations, but through the genuine manner in which our lives reflect Christ’s light to the world.

In a society where numerous distractions vie for our attention, be it through money, power, pleasure, social media, or the voices of false prophets, John the Baptist continues to resonate with urgency, crying out, “Behold the Lamb of God.” Each time we gather for the Eucharist and hear the words “Behold the Lamb of God,” it serves not only as an invitation to receive Communion but also as a powerful call to become living embodiments of what we receive.

Dear friends, today our Loving Father, through His Word, reassures us: You are CALLED by NAME, SANCTIFIED by GRACE, and SENT as LIGHT to the nations. May we, like the servant in Isaiah, like the psalmist, and like John the Baptist, live out our response through our actions, declaring, “Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.”

As followers of Christ, we are summoned to be lights for all nations, as Isaiah so beautifully reminds us. The brilliance of this light shines more vividly when we walk together in humility, charity, and mutual respect, even amidst our differences. Christian unity does not equate to uniformity; rather, it is a communion rooted in Christ and guided by the Holy Spirit.

This week, let us earnestly commit to praying for unity, healing the wounds of division, and refraining from words and actions that sow discord. Together, may we witness the Gospel through love, justice, and peace. May the Lamb of God gather all His scattered children into one family, enabling us to become credible witnesses of His saving mercy in the world. And may others, through our transformative presence, come to behold the Lamb of God.