The Second Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year A
Reading 1: IS 49: 3, 5-6
Response: Psalm 42Reading 2: 1 COR 1:1-3
Gospel: John 1:29-34
One of my favorite Biblical persons is John the Baptist. I like the way he always points us to Jesus rather than himself. I see him as the perfect model for spiritual directors and those who teach about the Christianity at any age level. His expression that Jesus should increase and he should decrease has always touched me. John saw Jesus as he truly was and himself in the role of preparing his way.
Calling Jesus the Lamb of God is also very special and appropriate. Each time we participate in Mass, the prayers: “Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.” and “Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, grant us peace” are said. Why were those prayers chosen to begin the Communion part of the Mass? Could it be the richness of the expression Lamb of God?
When we think of a lamb, we think of new life. How exciting to witness a new birth! Jesus certainly brought newness to our world. We usually do not consider how the world was before the time of Jesus. We take for granted some institutions like hospitals, social services, and other charitable groups. Even our calendars indicate a new era as we note that we are in year 2017 AD (Anno Domini), the year of the Lord.
The term “lamb” also suggests gentleness. In the picture above, we see Mary holding the Infant Jesus in one arm and a lamb in the other. Lambs are noted for their gentleness and provide wool to warm and comfort us. As strong and powerful as the Lord is, he came to us as a human infant and exhibited great gentleness and mercy toward people during his ministry.
Finally, the lamb was also the a sacrifice that the Jewish people offered to God to acknowledge his supremacy and their dependence on him. Therefore, the aspect of sacrifice is also embedded in the term “lamb.” Jesus through his accepting of the cross, his suffering and sacrificial death is truly the Lamb of God.
Having reflected on the richness of the meaning of Lamb of God, let us cherish this holy name of Jesus and say it with great love each time we participate in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
Spanish Translation of Reflection Above...
Jesús, el Cordero de Dios
Una de mis personas bíblicas favoritas es Juan el Bautista. Me gusta la forma en que siempre nos señala a Jesús más que a sí mismo. Lo veo como el modelo perfecto para los directores espirituales y los que enseñan sobre el cristianismo a cualquier edad. Su expresión de que Jesús debe aumentar y él debe disminuir siempre me ha tocado. Juan veía a Jesús como él realmente era y él mismo en el papel de preparar su camino.
Llamar a Jesús el Cordero de Dios también es muy especial y apropiado. Cada vez que participamos en la Misa, las oraciones: "Cordero de Dios que quita los pecados del mundo, ten misericordia de nosotros" y "Cordero de Dios que quita los pecados del mundo, concédenos la paz". ¿Por qué fueron elegidas estas oraciones para comenzar la Comunión en la Misa? ¿Podría ser la riqueza de la expresión Cordero de Dios?
Cuando pensamos en un cordero, pensamos en una nueva vida. ¡Qué emocionante ser testigo de un nuevo nacimiento! Jesús ciertamente trajo novedad a nuestro mundo. Normalmente no consideramos cómo era el mundo antes de la época de Jesús. Tomamos por sentado algunas instituciones como hospitales, servicios sociales y otros grupos caritativos. Incluso nuestros calendarios indican una nueva era cuando observamos que estamos en el año 2017 AD (Anno Domini), el año del Señor.
El término “cordero” también sugiere dulzura. En la foto de arriba, vemos a María sosteniendo al Niño Jesús en un brazo y un cordero en el otro. Los corderos son notados para su suavidad y proporcionan la lana para calentar y confortarnos. Tan fuerte y poderoso como el Señor, vino a nosotros como un niño humano y mostró gran mansedumbre y misericordia hacia las personas durante su ministerio.
Finalmente, el cordero fue también el sacrificio que el pueblo judío ofreció a Dios para reconocer su supremacía y su dependencia de él. Por lo tanto, el aspecto del sacrificio también está incrustado en el término “cordero”. Jesús a través de su aceptación de la cruz, su sufrimiento y muerte sacrificial es verdaderamente el Cordero de Dios.
Habiendo reflexionado sobre la riqueza del significado del Cordero de Dios, apreciemos este santo nombre de Jesús y lo digamos con gran amor cada vez que participamos en el Santo Sacrificio de la Misa.
Sr. Annette, I was very moved by your beautiful thoughts on the expression, “Lamb of God.” My contemplations center more on John the Baptist since the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord was celebrated on Monday. It is written that John leaped for joy in his mother’s womb when Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting. His joy, the Church has held from the time of the early Church Fathers, came from his cleansing at that moment of Original Sin, in accordance with the angel Gabriel's prophecy to Zachary, before John's conception, that "he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb" (Luke 1:15). John the Baptist was chosen by God to be His special ambassador to proclaim His coming.
ReplyDeleteThe following commentaries on John the Baptist are from the website: www.got questions.org. I share them in hopes that you will be inspired and have a deeper appreciation of John’s mission after reading them.
"There are several lessons we can learn from the life of John the Baptist. First, whole-heartedly believing in Jesus Christ is possible…John knew that the Messiah was coming. He believed this with his whole heart and spent his days ‘preparing the way’ for the Lord’s coming. But the road was not an easy one to prepare. Daily he faced doubters of various influence and popularity who did not share his enthusiasm for the coming Messiah. Under hard questioning from the Pharisees, John shared his belief: ‘I baptize with water…but among you stands one you do not know. He is the one who comes after me, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.’ John believed in the Christ and his great faith prepared him for hardships, but it kept him steadfast on his course until the time when he could say as he saw Jesus approach, ‘Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!’ As believers, we can all have this steadfast faith.”
“Second, anyone can be a strong and serious witness for Jesus Christ. John’s life is an example to us of the seriousness with which we are to approach the Christian life and our call to ministry, whatever that may be. We pattern our lives after John’s by first examining ourselves to be sure we are truly in the faith. Like John, we are to know and believe that ‘to live is Christ and to die is gain’ so we can be fearless in the face of persecution and death. John lived his life to introduce others to Jesus Christ, and knew the importance of repenting of one’s sins in order to live a holy and righteous life. And as a follower of Jesus Christ, he also was unafraid to call out people such as Herod and the Pharisees for their sinful behavior.”
“Third, John shows us how to stand firm in our faith no matter what the circumstances. Paul reminded Timothy that ‘everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted’ (2 Timothy 3:12). But for many of us who live in freedom, persecution takes on a very mild form. As he lived in an occupied country, John had to be aware that anything contrary to utter devotion to the king or emperor was asking for trouble. Yet his message was unchanging, bold and strong. It was John’s belief, his message, and his continual rebuke of King Herod that landed him in prison. While it is hard to know for sure what John was feeling as he sat in prison, we can be sure that he might have had some doubts about the Lord who tested his faith. In fact, John gets a message out to Jesus asking, ‘Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?’ (Matthew 11:3). As Christians we all will have our faith put to the test, and we will falter in our faith or, like John, cling to Christ and stand firm in our faith to the end.”
It is time to heed John the Baptist’s message and prepare our hearts for the Messiah for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.
What a wonderfully consoling, inspiring picture! We are well aware of the fact that the symbol of a gentle lamb has been used through the centuries in connection with our blessed Messiah. The following excerpts are from an article in "Catholic Straight Answers" concerning the reason why Jesus is called the "Lamb of God":
ReplyDelete"St. Peter exhorted: 'Realize that you were delivered from the futile way of life your fathers handed on to you, not by any diminishable sum of silver or gold, but by Christ's blood beyond all price, the blood of a spotless, unblemished lamb...(1 Peter 1:19). We must not forget that this image evokes victory. The Book of Revelation highlights this notion picturing the Lamb surrounded by angels, the 'living creatures', and elders, who cried out, 'Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches, wisdom and strength, honor and glory and praise!' (Revelation 5:12). Jesus is the King of kings, and Lord of lords (Revelation 17:14) who will be victorious against the powers of evil and will invite the righteous to the wedding feast of the Lamb (Revelation 19:9), the union of the Church, the new Jerusalem, in heaven with the Lord.
'For this reason, the Agnus Dei is sung during the fraction, the breaking of the consecrated Host. St. John Chrysostom (d. 407) preached of how the fraction symbolized the Passion of Christ... This belief is then emphasized again when the priest holds up the fractured Host and says: 'This is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, happy are those who are called to his supper.'
'As we celebrate the mysteries of the Mass, we look to the Lamb who suffered, died, and rose for our salvation. We must gather around the altar of the Lamb, offering to Him our own hearts and pledging to be His servants, so that we may welcome Him in the Holy Eucharist.'"
Catholic Straight Answers
05/20/2013