"Behold the Lamb of God!"

"Behold the Lamb of God!"

By REV. FR. ANTHONY IGBEKELE

Scripture 

1st Reading: Is49:3,5-6
Resp. Psalm: Ps40:2,4,7-10
2nd Reading: 1Cor1:1-3
Gosp. Accl.: Jn1:14,12
Gospel: Jn1:29-34

"Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world"

The beauty of life is not in holding on to it. Life is given. Life becomes meaningful if life is given back, lived to the full, poured out for others. This is the paradox of the life of the lamb. The lamb is born in order to live to die. The life of the lamb is meaningful in so far as it fulfills its role both as provision for warm clothing and meat. The gentle, meek nature of the lamb makes it suitable to perform this role. We can therefore understand the full implications of John the Baptist's statement today that his cousin Jesus is the Lamb of God. As Lamb, He would provide the meat for the sacrifice. He would give that meat both at the Last Supper and on the Cross. He would then fulfill His mandate as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Do we use our lives in the service of others? Do we appreciate the service given to the Father by the Lamb on our behalf? 

He "ranks before me, for he was before me"

The Lamb of God was not an ordinary being. The Lamb had existed before John the Baptist who eventually identified Him. The pre-existence of the Lamb was not in time but in eternity, before all things were made. As testified to by John the Baptist himself, He ranked before him. John testified that he did not know Him but that it was for His revelation to Israel that he came baptizing with water. The revelation of the Lamb was to take place at His baptism in the hands of the same John the Baptist at the river Jordan. There, as John testified today, he saw "the Spirit descend as a dove from heaven and remain on him." John got this intuition on how to identify the Lamb from the One who called and sent him to baptize with water. John saw as he was told and then bore witness that the Lamb of God is the Son of God. Are we in touch with God? Do we listen to His voice and obey His commands? Like John, do we allow God to lead and guide and govern our actions?

"You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified."

God chose His Son as His servant to make His will known. The word of God in today's first reading teaches us that the servant of Yahweh, who would carry out Yahweh's commands and plans for the nations, would come forth from Israel. In this servant, Yahweh would be glorified. This servant would fulfill the will of Yahweh by bringing Jacob back to Him and gather Israel to Him. Yahweh would make him a light to the nations, that his salvation might reach to the end of the earth. That same service, though in a lesser way, was carried on by the Apostles and disciples that came to believe in Him. St. Paul in today's second reading, bore eloquent testimony to this. The power to do this springs from their call and sanctification to be saints and servants of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Are we faithful servants of the Lord? Do we make His will known to others, especially those who have not heard about Him and those who have heard but pay little attention to their Christian lives?

Let us pray

"Almighty ever-living God, who govern all things, both in heaven and on earth, mercifully hear the pleading of your people and bestow your peace on our times." Amen.

May the Living Word of God find a true dwelling place within our hearts and souls today and always.

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