John 1:29
John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.
Readings for Sunday: Isaiah, 1 Corinthians, John
Reflection:
In this Sunday’s Gospel, we hear John the Baptist, looking at Jesus, say, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” It is these words that the priest says, when showing the Eucharist in both the host and chalice, right before communion. He immediately adds, “Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb.”
Last Sunday we celebrated the Baptism of the Lord, which closed the Christmas season, and then began Ordinary Time. This new season is a season of living as day-to-day disciples of Jesus. Our Lord is still with us in many ways, especially in the Blessed Sacrament. On Sundays, at daily Mass, and in the Eucharist adoration chapel, we have the chance to hear John the Baptist, in a sense proclaiming in our ear, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.”
We then have the opportunity to go to out to the world and proclaim Jesus like John the Baptist. In fact, that is how we began to call the Eucharistic celebration, “the Mass.” It is from the dismissal, “Ite, missa est,” which in Latin means, “Go, it is the dismissal.” Effectively, we have encountered the Lord in the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist, and now we are dismissed to proclaim him to the world. John the Baptist’s words and attitude should be ours, that we want to make Jesus known, and to “testif[y] that he is the Son of God.”
Reflection Questions
- How strong is my devotion to Jesus, present in the Blessed Sacrament, the Eucharist? Do I truly behold him present to me under the appearance of bread and wine?
- How strong is my drive and desire to share my faith? To tell other people about who Jesus is and how Jesus has changed my life?
- In what ways am I to be prophetic, like John the Baptist, in today’s world?