18 January 2026. The Second Sunday in Ordinary Time. "Behold the Lamb": The Call to Witness and Sanctity

The readings for the Second Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A) focus on the identity of Jesus Christ and the subsequent mission of those who recognize Him.

Themes in the Readings

  1. The Identity of Christ as the "Lamb of God": In the Gospel (John 1:29–34), John the Baptist identifies Jesus as the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world. This links back to the "Suffering Servant" in the First Reading (Isaiah 49:3, 5–6), who is a light to the nations.

  2. Universal Salvation: Isaiah speaks of a salvation that reaches the "ends of the earth," a theme echoed in the Second Reading (1 Corinthians 1:1–3), where Paul addresses all those "sanctified in Christ Jesus" in every place.

  3. The Mission of the Servant/Believer: Both the Servant in Isaiah and Paul in his letter are "called" and "formed" by God for a specific purpose—to bear witness to God’s glory.

  4. The Testimony of the Spirit: John the Baptist recognizes Jesus because he sees the Spirit descend and remain upon Him, marking the beginning of the New Covenant.

Discussion of the Themes According to Church Tradition

The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) emphasizes the title "Lamb of God" (Agnus Dei). It teaches that by this title, John the Baptist reveals Jesus as both the Suffering Servant who lets himself be led to the slaughter and the Paschal Lamb, symbol of Israel's redemption (CCC 608). The Catechism also notes that our "vocation to holiness" (seen in the Second Reading) is rooted in our Baptism, where we receive the same Spirit that John witnessed (CCC 1533).

The Early Church Fathers

  • St. John Chrysostom, commenting on the Gospel, noted that John the Baptist did not just say "Behold the Son of God," but "Behold the Lamb," to emphasize the sacrifice that would bring about the remission of sins.

  • St. Augustine spoke frequently on the "Light to the Nations" (Isaiah), explaining that Christ is the light that does not diminish, and as followers, we become "light in the Lord" through our participation in His life.

The Saints

  • St. Thomas Aquinas explains that the "testimony" of John was necessary because humans are led by the hand from things they know (the witness of a prophet) to the things they do not yet see (the divinity of Christ).

  • St. Teresa of Calcutta often meditated on the "behold" aspect of the Gospel, teaching that we must first "behold" Christ in the Eucharist and the poor before we can "witness" to Him in the world.

Actions Based on These Themes

  • Practice Active "Beholding": Spend time in Eucharistic Adoration. Just as John pointed to Jesus, allow yourself to sit in the presence of the "Lamb of God" to better recognize His voice in your daily life.

  • Identify Your "Light": Reflect on Isaiah’s call to be a light to the nations. Identify one area of your life (work, family, social media) where you can act with more charity and integrity to reflect Christ’s light.

  • Acknowledge Your Call to Sanctity: Begin each day by reciting a prayer of surrender, acknowledging—as St. Paul did—that you are "called to be holy." Treat others as people who share this same potential for sanctification.

  • Repentance and Renewal: Since the Lamb "takes away the sins of the world," make a regular practice of the Sacrament of Reconciliation to remove the barriers that prevent you from being a clear witness to the Gospel.

Location: Harbor City, Los Angeles, CA, USA

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