2nd Sunday in OT (A)

Behold, the lamb of God!

JOHN 1:29–34

By Sr Christina Araujo OP

Several images are set before us in this Sunday’s gospel. One image is that of the ‘Lamb of God’ taking away the sin of the world.

Remember the story of the Israelites in Egypt? They were a people in bondage, enslaved, oppressed. God reached out and set them free.

God told them to sacrifice a lamb and sprinkle the doorposts of their homes with the blood of the lamb. Thus began the journey from slavery to freedom as the beloved people of God.

Have you ever experienced anything like this? This was so powerful an experience for them that they continue to remember and celebrate it year after year in the Passover. So why do we focus on this now?

As Jesus is about to begin His ministry, John the Baptist points Him out to the people as ‘the Lamb of God’, the One who, by giving His life, ‘takes away the sin of the world’.

In our minds we, the people of our time, may picture the bleeding body of Christ on the cross—the Lamb of God of the New Covenant, along with this is a picture of the risen Christ pouring out His Spirit on future generations of people of every nation. We are privileged to see what John the Baptist had not yet seen.

The Lamb of God, slain for us two thousand years ago and risen, is the source of the fire surging within us now, urging us to live what Jesus lived.

As I write this, I am very much aware of people of every parish in our Archdiocese assembling to reflect and plan for the future.

Behold the Lamb of God! Behold the One who takes away the sin of the world! That same Lamb of God is the source of the energy that drives us all.

Like John we are caught up in something much bigger than ourselves. What effect will our discussions and decisions have on the future of others here in our country and elsewhere? Who knows?

Let us pray

Beloved God! Thank You for all who, inspired by the John the Baptists of their time, have given their lives in service to the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. Thank You for all who continue to serve day after day.

Forgive us for the times we have failed to show appreciation. So often, we look for ways to bring others down.

Help us to open our eyes to see and acknowledge the contribution of each one and to honour it.

May we experience a new outpouring of the Holy Spirit enabling us to go forward as dynamic Christian communities into the future. Amen.

Sr Christina Araujo is a Dominican sister of the Sinsinawa Community