John 1:29-34

1 John 2:29-3:6

Psalm 98:1, 3cd-4, 5-6

John 1:29-34

John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him and said,

“Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.

He is the one of whom I said,

‘A man is coming after me who ranks ahead of me

because he existed before me.’

I did not know him,

but the reason why I came baptizing with water

was that he might be made known to Israel.”

John testified further, saying,

“I saw the Spirit come down like a dove from the sky

and remain upon him.

I did not know him,

but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me,

‘On whomever you see the Spirit come down and remain,

he is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’

Now I have seen and testified that he is the Son of God.”

Opening Prayer: Lord God, I am called to give witness to the power of your grace and merciful love. Inspire me to know what to say and when to say it. Grant me the courage to not be silent when I need to speak up.

Encountering the Word of God

1. Lambs and Sins: When John gave testimony to Jesus, he proclaimed him as the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world. This harkens back to the faith of Abraham, who trusted on Mount Moriah, that God would one day provide a lamb for sacrifice. When the people of Israel offered a lamb, it was a symbol of their own self-offering. The lambs offered daily in the Tabernacle of Moses, in the Temple of Solomon, and in the Second Temple, were ineffective to “take away” the sins of God’s people. The sacrificial lambs were a sign that pointed to something greater. This something greater was the sacrifice of Jesus, the Lamb of God, on the Cross. John was inspired by the Holy Spirit to proclaim this great mystery at Jesus’ Baptism: Jesus was the Lamb whose sacrifice would effectively cleanse us from the stain of sin. Unlike the sacrifice of lambs in the Temple, Jesus’ sacrifice does not need to be repeated. When we celebrate the mass, we are sharing in the unique sacrifice of Jesus and not repeating it.

2. The Spirit Descended like a Dove: John not only testified to Jesus as the Son of God, but he also testified to the anointing and cleansing Spirit of God. At the Jordan River, John saw the Spirit descend like a dove on Jesus. This image of Spirit hovering over the waters harkens back to the creation of the world, and the image of a dove harkens back to Noah, when he released the dove as the flood waters began to recede. What this means is that the Spirit, through the Sacrament of Baptism, brings about our new creation in Christ. And just as the flood waters in the days of Noah swallowed up the evil of the world, the waters of baptism swallow up our sin and cleanse us from the evil of sin.

3. The Mystery of Baptism: When we are baptized, we share in the death and resurrection of Jesus. The plunging into the water represents our share in Jesus’ passion and death. When we rise from the water, this represents our share in Jesus’ resurrection. We die to our old selves and put on the new man in Christ. We are transformed. We become children of God and are empowered to act in righteousness. Baptism is only the beginning of eternal life in us. The seed of grace, bestowed through Baptism, awaits its cultivation in works of charity and its consummation in the glory of heaven. In this life, we know God dimly through faith. In the life to come, we will see God as he is. In this life, we struggle to know the mystery of God as a communion of three divine persons. In heaven, we will not struggle or see dimly as through a darkened mirror but will know God as he truly is.

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, bring me more deeply into the mystery of your divine life. Increase my faith so that I may confess you more confidently. Increase my hope so that I may trust more fully in you and your promise of eternal life. Increase my charity so that I may be united more perfectly in bonds of love with God the Father and my brothers and sisters.

Living the Word of God: How am I giving testimony to Jesus, the Son of God, and the Holy Spirit? Do I proclaim the great things God has done for me in my words and actions? How have I concretely done this during this first week of the New Year?