Second Sunday of the Year (Year A)

Second Sunday of the Year January 15, 2023

Readings:  Isaiah 49:3, 5-6   1 Corinthians 1:1-3   John 1:29-34

(image courtesy: Google)

One of the greatest violinists of all time was named Niccolo Paganini. He was born in 1782 and he enjoyed a well-known and memorable career before his death in 1840. One day as Paganini was about to perform before a packed opera house, he suddenly discovered that he had walked out on stage with the wrong violin. What he was holding was not his valued instrument but one that belonged to someone else.  His cherished violin was made by the master violin maker, Guarneri. Paganini was horrified and panic-stricken but knowing that he had no other choice, he began to play with all of the skill that he possessed. Everyone agreed, after the performance, that he had given a performance of a lifetime. When he finished his concert, the audience gave him a standing ovation. After the concert, he was praised and commended for his performance, Paganini replied, ” Today, I learned the most important lesson in my entire career. Before today, I thought the music was in my violin but today I learned that the music is in me.”

We are in a world of jealousy and hatred. We see people being intolerant at others – fearing that they may over take them in name and popularity. We look at John the Baptist today – humble and ready to let go of his popularity. Just like Niccolo Paganini it is a joy to accept and learn things in life than getting stuck to thoughts that destroy ones personality.

John the Baptist gives us the identity of Jesus, who he is and what his mission is. We need to know who Jesus is and understand his mission if we want to be his true disciples. A disciple is one who knows and understands the master and follows him closely.  Every good disciple is also an apostle who proclaims the good news of the master.  In the Gospel of today we have John the Baptist fulfilling his role as a witness and proclaiming to people that Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.  The lamb is the symbol of gentleness, sacrifice and triumph.  The lamb is said to be a harmless animal and is so innocent that it will even lick the hand that is raised to slaughter it.  Jesus is that gentle and humble person, who said that he is truly meek and humble of heart.

In this Gospel passage John is giving witness to the three titles of Jesus. In the first title he calls him the Greater One, the person who existed before him.  His response is that Jesus must increase and he, John must decrease.  The second title under which John saw Jesus can be called as the Vehicle of Holy Spirit.  Here John sees the Spirit coming as a dove and the spirit will be instrumental in the baptism of Jesus. The third title is God’s chosen one, the person set apart, recognizing the special mission of Jesus. But the most precious of the titles and at the same time a strange title is when John calls Jesus as the Lamb of God. There had been a series of plagues in Egypt and each time Pharaoh broke his promise to liberate them.  The final and most terrible plague involved the slaying of every firstborn child in Egypt on the day of the Passover. In order that the Israelites might not be punished, they were told to smear the doorposts of their houses with the blood of a lamb.

What do we learn from today’s readings:  If we want to be the disciples of Jesus we must first find out who Jesus really is for us.  Jesus the Lamb of God uniquely relates God and human beings. Peter and the disciples identified him as the Son of God and in him they found the security and eternal life. He was their support and strength.  Down the centuries human beings have looked at Jesus to see the kind and loving face of God. God the creator of the universe looks at Jesus his son with love and in him we see that compassionate divine face.  Today as we reflect on his word and discover him in this world we need to know what his mission is, if we want to be his good disciples.  Every disciple of Jesus is a true follower of the master and is also an apostle who carries the good news to all.  The Christian disciple not only follows the Gospel of Jesus but also helps others to hear and accept it also and practices it in his life. Let a thought run in our veins – let Jesus increase in me and I decrease.

Happy Sunday