The Second Sunday of Ordinary Time (Cycle B, 2021)
and as he watched Jesus walk by, he said,
“Behold, the Lamb of God.”
The two disciples heard what he said and followed Jesus.
If you’re anything like me, the recent celebrations of Epiphany and the Baptism of the Lord have already faded into memory. I find myself continually distracted by the ceaseless news cycle, the unrest across the nation, the continuing devastation being wreaked by the coronavirus pandemic, as well the “quick succession of busy nothings” of my own life (to borrow a phrase from Jane Austen). And now, here we are in Ordinary Time again, with a very adult Jesus in the early days of his ministry.
The Gospel assigned for the Second Sunday of Ordinary Time opens with John the Baptist in conversation with some of his disciples. In a sense, John helps to form a bridge between Advent and Christmas and these first days of Ordinary Time (see Pope Francis, Angelus Address for January 14, 2018). John will soon step into the shadows as the liturgy directs our focus to the mission of Jesus. But, for one last time it seems, John fulfills his mission as a prophet by sharing one final revelation—another epiphany, as it were—about who this Jesus is: “Behold, the Lamb of God.”
“The Pointer” by Ottavio Vanini (d. 1643)
Although the Church traditionally celebrates three gospel
events as “Epiphany”—the visit of the Magi, the Baptism of Jesus, and the wedding
feast at Cana—this Sunday’s Gospel compliments these great mysteries because it
helps focus our attention on the saving work of Jesus. In fact, the entire life
of Jesus is itself a revelation, a manifestation of the Father’s love and
grace. As Saint John Paul II observed, “The witness of John the Baptist still
resounds today, almost 2,000 years after the event recounted in the Gospel: the
Precursor points to Jesus of Nazareth as the long-awaited Messiah and invites
us all to renew and deepen our faith in him. It is Jesus our Redeemer! His
saving mission, solemnly proclaimed at the moment of his Baptism in the Jordan,
culminates in the paschal mystery, when on the Cross he, the true Lamb
sacrificed for us, frees and redeems humanity, every person, from evil and
death” (Homily of January 17, 1999)
What is remarkable about this Sunday’s Gospel however, is that the text doesn’t end with John’s powerful statement about who Jesus is. It continues by recounting how John’s disciples respond to this moment of revelation: they walked away from John, a teacher whom we can assume they loved and admired, to follow Jesus. Moreover, Andrew didn’t keep this revelation to himself. Instead, he invited his brother Simon—soon to become “Cephas”—to come to Jesus, as well.
Like the story of Samuel recounted in the First Reading, the Gospel reminds us that, when moments of revelation take place in our lives—when are blessed with a glimpse of God’s grandeur—we are called to respond. For the boy Samuel, this meant learning to listen when God spoke to him. For Andrew, Simon, and the other disciples, their nascent understanding of who Jesus was inspired them to leave behind the lives they knew and to set out on a new path.
In a very real sense, this is the purpose of the moments of epiphany enshrined in the gospels. These glimpses of the divine within Jesus were not simply “aha!” moments. Rather, these mysteries invite a response. They challenge us to act on what has been shown to us. In a way, they are gifts that ask to be used. We can sense the urgency of this in the quick progression of the story. Jesus’ response to the question “Where are you staying” is clear and concise: “Come, and you will see.” This is what Jesus is saying to each of us. We have seen his glory. Now is the time to act, to accept the Lord’s invitation to “come.”
For Reflection
What grace did you receive during the Christmas Season
that you can continue to reflect upon in these days of Ordinary Time?
Who has been a “John the Baptist” for you, helping you recognize God’s presence in your life?
What is Jesus inviting you to do to become a more faithful disciple?
Words of Wisdom: “The Gospel narrative indicates the essential characteristics of the journey of faith. There is a journey of faith, and this is the journey of the disciples of all times, ours too, beginning with the question that Jesus asks the two who, urged by the Baptist, set out to follow Him: “What do you seek?” (v. 38). It is the same question that the Risen One asks Mary Magdalene on Easter morning: “Woman, whom do you seek?” (cf. Jn 20:15). Each of us, as a human being, is seeking: seeking happiness, seeking love, a good and full life. God the Father has given us all this in his Son Jesus.”
-Pope Francis, Angelus Address of January 14, 2018
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