2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, January 15, 2023

We are each called to testify to the importance of Jesus in our lives

John 1: 29–34

The next day, he saw Jesus coming towards him and said, ‘Look, there is the lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.

‘It was of him that I said, “Behind me comes one who has passed ahead of me because he existed before me.” I did not know him myself, and yet my purpose in coming to baptize with water was so that he might be revealed to Israel.’

And John declared, ‘I saw the Spirit come down on him like a dove from heaven and rest on him.

‘I did not know him myself, but he who sent me to baptize with water had said to me, “The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and rest is the one who is to baptize with the Holy Spirit.”

‘I have seen and I testify that he is the Chosen One of God.’

Music Meditations

• “Come to the Water”—OCP
• “Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow”—mddragon1801
• “The Ground”—Ola Gjeilo
• “Wade in the Water”

Opening Prayer

Sometimes, Lord, I am puzzled by the direction my life has taken and I do not always respond as fully as I could. Just what are you calling me to in this very moment of my life? Help me to recognize you when you show up in my daily life, unannounced, and help me to see your presence in my day to day life. Help me to see you in the needs of those around me. Help me to recognize opportunities for growth, grace, and service in the most mundane corners of my lie, and in the ordinary people I meet.

Companions for the Journey

From “First Impressions 2023”, a service of the Southern Dominican Province:

The gospel today makes a shift. Until now we have been focusing on John, Jesus’ precursor. Now the gospel, through the Baptist’s testimony, passes us from John to Jesus. But before we make that move, let’s linger a moment longer with John. Imagine what John the Baptist had to go through in his ministry. It started when he received a call to announce the one coming after him who would be greater than he; one John names today as, “the Lamb of God.” This was the one who would take away the “sin of the world.” At first, John didn’t know who this one coming would be. He had to wait for a further revelation, as he testifies today, “At first, I did not know him….”

In fact, twice John admits, “I did not know him.” John had to wait to see the Spirit descend “like a dove” and remain on Jesus. When that happened, then John would finally know the one he had been expecting and preparing the people to receive – the one who would “baptize with the Holy Spirit.”

John had to work blind for a while. He received his initial call, then had to wait. But his waiting didn’t mean he sat down and did nothing. He got busy and acted on his call, trusting that when the moment came to see the fulfillment of his ministry God would show him what to do next. John reminds us of the Magi. They received a message when they first saw the star in the night sky. They responded, leaving home, to follow the message of the star. But they, like John, had to go a while before they arrived at their goal and recognized Jesus.

As the baptized, we are all involved in ministry. Some of us have official positions within the church, others respond privately to the needs around us. Each of us has heard a call to ministry. Our lives are marked by these ministries and by the people who need us. But, in many ways, like John and the Magi, we work in the dark. Not only the in darkness of our world, but also in the darkness of our call. We invest ourselves in what we know we must do, but we have questions along the way: How much longer shall I continue to minister in this way? Am I in the right ministry for my talents? Why doesn’t what I do in service receive more official recognition? I thought after these years of ministry I would have made more of an impact. Looking back, did I receive a call at all, or was it my imagination or vanity? I don’t think some of these questions were foreign to the Baptist. He did have a keen sense of having been called. But then, he had to work until he got the next sign; the one indicating Jesus’ identity. Like the Magi, and like some of us, he journeyed without knowing the end results of his labors. But he anticipated that God would not leave him, but would be there for him, at the appropriate time, to reveal the next step to take.

There is an end awaiting us; a time when we will see God face to face and there will be no more darkness. On this, we place all our hope. Until then, we continue our service in the Lord’s name. We stay committed to our faith community, especially when we gather in Eucharistic celebration. We also seek the Lord in regular times of prayer.

If we are to make significant changes, like the Magi’s packing up to begin a search or, like John’s fulfilling his mission, we will need guidance in our ministry. Then, we shall place ourselves in a more intensive listening mode through quiet prayer; reflective reading and even seeking the counsel of a wise person who can help us identify the call of the Lord in our lives. I am grateful to such people who helped me notice the descent of the Spirit at important and transitional moments of my life. Thankfully, someone was there to help me say, “I saw the Spirit come down like a dove….” Who are those people for you? Let us give thanks.

Weekly Memorization

Taken from the gospel for today’s session…

Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world

Living the Good News

What action can you take in the next week as a response to today’s reading and discussion?

Keep a private journal of your prayer/actions responses this week. Feel free to use the personal reflection questions or the meditations which follow:

Reflection Questions

• If I had one sin that needed to be taken away, what would I choose?
• What would you say is the “sin of the world”? Think of some examples of how this plays out in human behavior, personal relationships, politics, the world stage, the health of the planet….
• What choices do we make as humans that emanate from this atmosphere of sin that pervades the world?
  What means do we use to distract ourselves from a hopeless contemplation of the state of the world and ourselves?
• John is a powerful witness to the presence and mission of Jesus the anointed of God. We are all anointed at our baptism, but have we been powerful witness of God’s presence in the world?
  Do we assume this is reserved to the ordained?
• Am I shy about discussing my faith with others? Why?
• What does it mean to really “see” someone?
  What do you think John “saw” in Jesus?
  What do you “see” in Jesus?
• Andrew and Peter come to Jesus as a result of the testimony of John. Has anyone come to Jesus through your living testimony?
• Psalm 40 says “Here I am Lord, I come to do your will”.
  What do you think God’s will for you is?
  What signs do you look for to confirm that you are doing God’s will?
• Has there ever been anyone in your experience that you have recognized as “special”?
  In what way were they special?
  How did they influence your life, if at all?
• From Daniel J Harrington, S.J.:
  How do you respond to the image of Jesus as the Lamb of God?
  How is the gift of the Holy Spirit related to Jesus?
  Do you ever think of Jesus as your brother?
• From Father Paul Gallagher, OFM:
  Twice in the text John admits, “I did not know him.” Do you think John is saying that he did not know his own cousin?
  What does that say to you about the kind of person Jesus was?
  What does this say to you about where you might find the face of Jesus present around you?
• How difficult do you think it was for the Baptist to admit and accept the fact that his cousin, Jesus, was a much more important and significant person?
  Have there been times in your own journey when you had to admit that you were not as important as others, or you yourself, once thought? What were some of the things that helped you through that transition?
• How is the journey of self-discovery before God taking place in your life now? Does this gospel shed any light on that journey?

Meditations

A Meditation in the Dominican Style/Asking Questions:

Let us for a moment pause and reflect on the world into which Jesus entered so many years ago. What economic, spiritual and societal challenges existed in Palestine so long ago? In his brief life, what changes did Jesus effect? Then consider the economic, spiritual and societal challenges we all face in life today. What are you called to bring to those challenges? What does Jesus’ life offer as an example for you?

A Meditation in the Augustinian Style/Relationship:

Read Psalm 40 from the Sunday readings.

Psalm 40

I waited, I waited for the LORD, and he stooped down to me; he heard my cry. He drew me from the deadly pit, from the miry clay. He set my feet upon a rock, made my footsteps firm. He put a new song into my mouth, praise of our God. Many shall see and fear and shall trust in the LORD. Blessed the man who has placed his trust in the LORD, and has not gone over to the proud who follow false gods. How many, O LORD my God, are the wonders and designs that you have worked for us; you have no equal. Should I wish to proclaim or speak of them, they would be more than I can tell! You delight not in sacrifice and offerings, but in an open ear. You do not ask for holocaust and victim. Then I said, “See, I have come.” In the scroll of the book it stands written of me: “I delight to do your will, O my God; your instruction lies deep within me.” Your justice I have proclaimed in the great assembly. My lips I have not sealed; you know it, O LORD. Your saving help I have not hidden in my heart; of your faithfulness and salvation I have spoken. I made no secret of your merciful love and your faithfulness to the great assembly. O LORD, you will not withhold your compassion from me. Your merciful love and your faithfulness will always guard me. For I am beset with evils too many to be counted. My iniquities have overtaken me, till I can see no more. They are more than the hairs of my head, and my heart is sinking. Be pleased, O LORD, to rescue me; LORD, make haste to help me. O let there be shame and confusion on those who seek my life. O let them turn back in confusion who delight in my harm. Let them be appalled because of their shame, those who jeer and mock me. O let there be rejoicing and gladness for all who seek you. Let them ever say, “The LORD is great,” who long for your salvation. Wretched and poor though I am, the Lord is mindful of me. You are my rescuer, my help; O my God, do not delay.

Reword the third-person verses this psalm as if you were speaking to God directly. Then spend some time examining which verses speak for you and capture your innermost feelings. Examine also those phrases of the psalm which call upon God to punish those who have wronged you. Is this how you feel sometimes? How can a reflection of the life and mission of Jesus help you cope with the many issues in your life? How can a reflection of the life and mission of Jesus help you to discern your own mission? Write your own psalm, being sure to include your commitment to the unique mission God has set out for you.

A Meditation in the Ignatian Style/Imagination:

Read John 1: 19–28. In this section John is identified as a witness to the person, mission and real identity of Jesus. Imagine being at a religious gathering that is somewhat public—say an appearance of our Pope at the Vatican—and Jesus shows up at the event. Would he look different than the others there? Would the Pope recognize him? Would we all see the Holy Spirit descend on him? How do you think you would react? In our actual time and space, we are still called upon to witness to Jesus. What sort of witness to the identity of Jesus are you and I called upon to make? How do we talk about Jesus as expression of God’s love for us, Jesus as our hope, and most difficult, Jesus as mystery? Pray for the grace to recognize Jesus in our world, for the courage to witness to his presence, and for the wisdom to do so in a way which draws others and does not judge.

Poetic Reflection:

In the following quirky poem, e.e. cummings seems to look at the experience of John the Baptist which we read about in John 29-34 in a different sort of way. How close does it come to your thoughts on Jesus and John?

no time ago or else a life walking in the dark i met christ jesus)my heart flopped over and lay still while he passed(as close as i’m to you yes closer made of nothing except loneliness.

Closing Prayer

From Sacred Space:

Jesus, Lamb of God, we will never exhaust our knowledge of you. Let me grow steadily in that knowledge, making my picture of you even richer. Help me find the balance between being occupied in your service without letting my occupations overwhelm me.