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The readings are:
- First Reading: Isaiah 49:3, 5-6
The Lord speaks to His servant: "You are my servant, Israel, through whom I show my glory." Though the servant feels his labor has been in vain, God declares a greater mission: "It is too little... to raise up the tribes of Jacob... I will make you a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth."
- Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 40:2, 4, 7-8, 8-9, 10
"Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will."
- Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:1-3
Paul greets the Church as one called to be holy, offering grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
- Gospel: John 1:29-34
John the Baptist sees Jesus coming toward him and proclaims: "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world." He testifies that this is the Son of God, the one upon whom the Spirit descends and remains.
A Reflection: Called to Be Light and Witness
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
As we settle into Ordinary Time after the great feasts of Christmas and the Epiphany, and following the Baptism of the Lord, today's readings invite us to ponder our own vocation and mission in the light of Christ. The prophet Isaiah speaks of a servant who, despite feelings of futility, is chosen by God from the womb for a universal purpose—to be a light to the nations. This passage, one of the Servant Songs, points forward to Christ, the ultimate Servant, but it also speaks directly to each of us baptized into His life.
In our own lives, we may sometimes feel that our efforts for good are "in vain"—perhaps in family struggles, parish work, personal prayer that seems dry, or witnessing to faith in a secular world. Yet God reminds us: it is not too little. Our small acts of fidelity, love, and service are part of His grand plan to bring salvation to the ends of the earth. We are formed in the womb not by accident, but with purpose—to reflect His glory.
The Responsorial Psalm echoes this call with beautiful surrender: "Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will." These words are not mere sentiment; they are the response of a heart open to God, ready to listen and act. In a noisy world, how often do we pause to hear what God asks of us? The Psalmist reminds us that God does not desire holocausts or sacrifices as much as an obedient, listening heart.
St. Paul, in his greeting to the Corinthians, calls the community "sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be holy." This is our identity too—called, sanctified, set apart. Holiness is not reserved for saints in statues; it is our common vocation as baptized Christians.
The Gospel brings everything into sharp focus through the eyes of John the Baptist. He points to Jesus and declares: "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world." John does not claim the spotlight; he testifies humbly, "I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God." His role is to point others to Jesus, to prepare the way.
In this Year A, where we will soon journey through Matthew's Gospel, today's reading from John reminds us that our deepest mission is the same as John's: to behold Christ and then bear witness to Him. The Lamb who takes away the sin of the world is not a distant figure—He is the one who comes to us in the Eucharist, in Scripture, in the poor, in our neighbor. When we truly see Him, as John did, our lives become a living testimony.
As we begin the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, these readings challenge us further. If Christ is the light to the nations and the Lamb who removes sin, then division among His followers dims that light. Our call to holiness includes working for unity, recognizing that we are all sanctified in the one Christ.
Let us pray for the grace to say with sincerity: "Here I am, Lord." May we allow God to make us lights in our families, workplaces, and communities, pointing always to the Lamb of God. In doing His will, our "ordinary" days become extraordinary channels of His salvation.
May the Lord bless you and keep you, making His face shine upon you as you live out your vocation to be His servant and witness.
In Christ, the Lamb of God,
Sacerdotus™
