2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
John 1:29-34
Every time we celebrate the Eucharist we recall the words of John the Baptist, as he alerts us to the one who is among us: ‘Look, there is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.’
We are perhaps more familiar with the image of Jesus as Shepherd of the flock but the image of Jesus as the Lamb who was slain is one which has very deep meaning in the entire History of our Salvation.
In Jewish thought and tradition whenever they wanted to plea with God for what they needed or wanted to make reparation for sins or transgression or when they wished to seal an agreement with God, they sacrificed a Lamb. They prepared it, cooked it and ate it in ceremonial fashion. This ritual bound them together and their celebration gave glory to God.
The annual remembrance of their liberation from exile, the Passover, took place at that time of year when it is chronicled that Jesus died on the Cross. A little over twenty years after the death of Jesus St Paul refers to Jesus as : ‘Christ, our Passover’ and so the image of Jesus as the Paschal Lamb has been implanted in our Liturgy and Spirituality.
When we celebrate the Eucharist and when the image of Jesus as sacrificial Lamb, is presented to us, we remember all that we are grateful for; our calling, our acceptance and the love of God for us: our need to repent and turn back to God: the commitment which we have made through our Baptism: our need and our call to give praise and worship God and in so doing become holy ourselves.
Truly blessed and happy are those who are called to this banquet. In the Eucharist we eat the bread of life which is the flesh of Jesus: it is in the Blood of Jesus that our baptismal robes are washed clean again.
Jesus is the innocent, gentle Lamb, on whom the Spirit of power and the dove peace comes to rest.
‘Yes I have seen and I am the witness that he is the Chosen One of God.’