ECCE AGNUS DEI! BEHOLD THE LAMB OF GOD
A Happy & Blessed Sunday to you. As we transition from the celebration & joy of the Christmas season into the first weeks of Ordinary Time, the Church invites us to pause at the banks of the Jordan River. Today’s liturgy does not just mark a change in the colour of the priest’s vestments – from White to Green, symbolising growth & life. It also marks the beginning of our public walk with Christ. The Gospel of John presents us with a pivotal moment of recognition and testimony that sets the tone for the entire year of discipleship.
The Power of Recognition: "Behold the Lamb of God"
The centerpiece of today’s Gospel is John the Baptist’s dramatic proclamation: "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29). This phrase is so central to our faith that we repeat it at every Mass just before receiving Holy Communion. But for John’s original audience, these words were a "prophetic bombshell."
For a first-century Jew, the "Lamb" evoked two powerful images:
1. The Passover Lamb: Whose blood on the doorposts in Egypt meant liberation from slavery and protection from death.
2. The Suffering Servant: Described by the prophet Isaiah in the 4 Suffering Servant of God songs. Our 1st Reading from Isaiah 49 is the 2nd of these 4 songs & it reaches it’s crescendo in Isaiah 52 & 53 where we see the servant as a lamb led to the slaughter, bearing the guilt of many to bring about peace.
By calling Jesus the "Lamb," John identifies Him not as a political warrior or a conquering king in the worldly sense, but as the one who conquers through vulnerability, sacrifice, and mercy. John’s role was to point away from himself and toward the Light. He reminds us that the first step of the spiritual life is not doing, but beholding—learning to recognize God’s presence in our midst even when He appears in the most humble forms.
The Servant’s Mission: Light to the Nations
In the 1st Reading, Isaiah speaks of a servant formed from the womb. God tells this servant that it is "too little" a thing just to restore the tribes of Israel. Instead, God says, "I will make you a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth" (Isaiah 49:6).
This prophecy finds its perfect fulfillment in Jesus, the Lamb. Through our Baptism, this also extends to us. We are often tempted to keep our faith private, tucked away within the walls of our homes or our parish. We tend to be Secret like Agent Christian Operatives, working in the shadows. But Ordinary Time reminds us that the grace we received at Christmas is meant to be freely given out. Like the servant in Isaiah, we are called to be "light." This doesn't necessarily mean performing grand miracles; it does means reflecting the character of the Lamb—meekness, patience, and forgiveness—in our workplaces, our schools, and our families.
Called to be Saints in the Everyday
St. Paul, in the Second Reading, greets the church in Corinth by reminding them that they are "sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be holy" (1 Corinthians 1:2). It is important to note that Paul is writing to a community that was far from perfect—they struggled with divisions, scandals, and ego. Yet, he calls them "saints."
This is the beauty of Ordinary Time. Holiness is not reserved for those with halos in stained-glass windows; it is the "ordinary" vocation of every Christian. We are "called to be holy" precisely in the messiness of our current lives. Paul’s greeting of "Grace to you and peace" is a reminder that we do not achieve this holiness through sheer willpower, but by leaning into the grace provided by the Lamb who has already taken away our sins.
The Testimony of the Spirit
John the Baptist admits twice in the Gospel passage, "I did not know him." This is a striking admission from Jesus’ own cousin. It suggests that John’s recognition of Jesus wasn't based on family ties or human intuition, but on a divine revelation. He saw the Spirit descend and remain upon Jesus.
This reveals a profound truth for our own journey: we cannot truly "know" Jesus on our own terms. We need the Holy Spirit to open our eyes. As we begin this new year, we might ask ourselves: Are we looking for Jesus with the eyes of the world, or are we asking the Spirit to show Him to us?
Often, Jesus comes to us "incognito"—in the person who is difficult to love, in the colleague who is grieving, or in the quiet nudge of our conscience. John the Baptist’s greatness lay in his ability to step back so that Christ could step forward. Our mission is the same: to be witnesses who say, by the way we live and love, "Behold, there He is."
What Is Our Response Today?
As we reflect on these readings, we are challenged to move beyond being mere spectators of the Gospel. The Responsorial Psalm (Psalm 40) provides us with the perfect response to John’s "Behold": "Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will."
To follow the Lamb of God is to embrace a life of "strength in vulnerability." It is to trust that God’s way of peace and sacrifice is more powerful than the world’s way of force and ego. This week, when the priest holds up the Host and says, "Behold the Lamb of God," let us not just say the words of the centurion—"Lord, I am not worthy"—but let us also add the words of the Prophet from Isaiah 6:8: "Here am I, Lord. Send me."
Article by Anonymous Blog Contributor