Readings: Isaiah 49:3,5-6; 1 Corinthians 1:1-3; John 1:29-34
Theme: Witnessing to Christ, the Light of the World
By Michael McCabe, SMA
Last Sunday we celebrated the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, an event that confirmed the identity of Jesus as God’s ‘beloved Son’ and marked the launch of his mission. Today, the Second Sunday of Ordinary Time, our readings invite us to reflect further on the identity and mission of Jesus and on what it means to witness to him as ‘the Chosen One of God’ (Jn 1:24)
Our first reading is taken from the prophet Isaiah who lived in the eighth century before Christ. He introduces the figure of the Servant of the Lord and declares that God will be honoured and glorified in the work of the Servant, who will not only liberate the people of Israel but will be ‘the light of the nations’ so that God’s saving love ‘may reach the end of the earth’ (Is 49:6). It is in Jesus that this prophesy is perfectly fulfilled. He is the universal saviour ‘who takes away the sin of the world’ (Jn 1:29).
In the second reading Saint Paul addresses the Christian Community in Corinth. He had spent about two years in Corinth preaching the message of Christ to the people. Now he wants to encourage them in the faith they had received through him. He reminds them that they ‘are called to take their place among all the saints everywhere who pray to our Lord Jesus Christ’ (1 Cor 1:3). This privilege is not reserved to the Christians of Corinth, but extended to us who are part of the great community of those who acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord. The secret of Saint Paul’s apostolate was his profound personal experience of Jesus. Like Paul, are called centre our lives on Christ and deepen our knowledge of him.
Our gospel reading is taken from John’s gospel and presents John the Baptist as the first and primary witness to the identity of Christ, the Messiah, the one sent by God to liberate his people. When the messengers sent by the religious leaders of the Jews put this question to him, ‘Who are you?’ (Jn 1:19), he replies ‘I am not the Christ’ (Jn 1: 20). When he is pressed further to say who he is, he identifies himself, in words borrowed from the prophet Isaiah, as ‘a voice of one that cries in the desert: Prepare a way for the Lord. Make his paths straight!’ (Jn 1:23). But John does more than prepare the way for the Messiah.
He also identifies Jesus as the Messiah and so becomes ‘a witness to speak for the light’ (Jn 1:8). When he sees Jesus coming towards him, the Baptist points to him and says, ‘Look, there is the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world’ (Jn 1:29), indicating the manner in which Jesus will carry out his mission. Jesus will be a suffering servant, as Isaiah envisaged, not a glorious warrior. John the Baptist also witnesses to what he saw at the baptism of Jesus. He states that he saw the Spirit ‘come down on him [Jesus] like a dove from heaven and rest on him (Jn 1:32). Hence, he is able to testify that Jesus ‘is the Chosen One of God’ (Jn 1:34).
While the Baptist plays a unique role as the first witness to Jesus, he is first of many witnesses. Later in John’s gospel, Jesus tells his own disciples that, when they receive ‘the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father’, they, too, will be his witnesses (cf Jn 15:26-27). We, too, have been given the same commission. We have been baptised in the Spirit and empowered to witness to Jesus as the Chosen One of God, the Light of the World, and to lead others to him. In carrying out this commission, we have a great model in John the Baptist. Like him we are challenged to point away from ourselves towards Christ. The role of being a witness to Christ is memorably expressed by the great fourth century theologian, St Augustine, in the following words:
I listen; he is the one who speaks.
I am enlightened; he is the light;
I am the ear; he is the Word.
We must not stand in the way or block the light of Christ; we must reflect it. Speaking of ‘blocking the light’ reminds me of an interesting story of a meeting between the famous Greek Commander Alexander the Great and Diogenes, an eccentric Greek philosopher. Diogenes renounced worldly wealth and chose to live an ascetic life close to nature. Alexander found him sunning himself at the entrance of his home – an empty barrel. He asked Diogenes if there was anything he could do for him. ‘Yes’ replied Diogenes, ‘there is one thing you can do for me. You can mover a bit to one side so that I can see the Sun’.
So we pray: Heavenly Father, pour your spirit into our hearts and help to imitate the example of John the Baptist and become clear and effective witnesses to your beloved Son, Jesus Christ. May our words and actions never block, but always reflect the Light of Christ, the Saviour of the Lord.
Listen to an alternative audio Homily by Tom Casey, SMA: