02nd Sunday in Ordinary Time: 18 January 2026
Readings: Isaiah 49:3, 5–6; Psalm 40:2, 4, 7–10; 1 Corinthians 1:1–3; John 1:29–34
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| Icon of John the Baptist by Georgia, 15th century |
The world in which we live is quite big, and so are the complexities that affect our lives. Navigating and finding the right solutions and the right people to guide us is often difficult and challenging. People often point out at others as the right gurus or leaders, but unfortunately, they are not. The wickedness and evil are everywhere, and these people confirm that they are the ones. Even believing someone has become very tough today. Trust is the problem. There is no clarity, credibility, courage, or straightforwardness among these people. In this context, often we are left alone to find our way or marga. As we reflect on this dimension of right people and right time, the liturgical reading on this 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time is not only marvellous, but also we find Jesus, even John the Baptist, pointing at him as Messiah, the Saviour whom the Israelites waited for so long. In fact, he is the greatest prophet of all time, John the Baptist, who points at Jesus and says that he is the right one.
1. Jesus: Behold, the Lamb of God
Standing on the quiet banks of the river Jordan, where John the Baptist works, not as a performer of wonders, but as a witness overwhelmed by what he sees. John does not say, “Here is a wise teacher” or “Here is a holy man,” but “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” In John 1:29–34, there is no thunder, no crowd reaction recorded, no dramatic conversion scene. And yet, what unfolds is one of the most awe-filled moments in the Gospel: a human being recognizing God standing before him.
John does not say, look at me. He says, behold Him. He points at Jesus! Awe always begins when attention shifts away from the self and rests upon the mystery of God. John’s words are not an explanation; they are an invitation to contemplation. The Lamb stands there in silence, carrying within himself the weight of the world’s brokenness. He has not yet spoken, healed, or taught—yet John already sees his mission: to take away the sin of the world. Awe arises not from what Jesus does, but from who He is.
2. Boldness: Points at the right person as Prophet
John the Baptist confesses something deeply humbling: “I did not know him.” This is startling. If anyone should have recognized Jesus, it was John—his relative, the prophet, the forerunner. Yet he admits that recognition was not automatic. It was a tough decision. God cannot be grasped by familiarity, status, or even religious proximity. Revelation is always a gift. Think of every injustice, every secret shame, every cruelty and betrayal that scars this world; this is the world into which the Lamb of God walks, and whose weight He chooses to carry.
The sign given to John is simple and profound: the Spirit descending and remaining upon Jesus. Not rushing, not flashing, but remaining. This is a God who chooses to dwell. The awe here is gentle yet overwhelming: the eternal Spirit resting upon a human life, heaven making its home on earth. In Jesus, God does not merely visit humanity; God abides with us. The sacred is no longer distant. It stands among us, breathing, waiting, inviting. Each person’s darkest failures are redeemable.
3. Witness: Testimony to the Truth
John’s final testimony is not emotional, but absolute: “Now I have seen and testified that he is the Son of God.” Awe does not always shout; sometimes it kneels in quiet certainty. John fades from the center so that Christ may stand revealed. True spiritual awe does not seek applause or recognition—it points, witnesses, and steps aside.
This Gospel leaves us with a holy question, not spoken but felt: Do we recognize the Lamb of God when He passes through our ordinary days? In the Eucharist, in the poor, in moments of suffering and silence, Christ still stands among us—often unnoticed, often underestimated. On this Sunday, we are not invited to do more, but to see more deeply. In fact, we are asked to allow God to surprise us, when we stop trying to define Him and instead let Him reveal Himself.
Questions for self-reflection:
- What usually captures my attention more than the presence of God?
- Do I recognize Jesus as the Lamb who takes away sin, including my own?
- What sins, burdens, or wounds do I still hesitate to place before God?
- Am I attentive to God’s quiet, abiding presence rather than only dramatic moments?
Prayer:
Lord our God, you come to us quietly, standing in the midst of our ordinary lives, often unnoticed and unacknowledged. Open our eyes to behold you with reverence and wonder, and soften our hearts to recognize your gentle presence. Take away the sin that burdens us, the fears we carry, and the pride that blinds us. Let your Spirit remain with us, shaping our thoughts, our choices, and our desires. Teach us the humility to step aside so that your life may be revealed through ours. Draw us into a deeper awe of your mystery, that in silence and trust we may confess with our lives that you are truly the Son of God. We make this prayer in Jesus' Holy Name, Amen.
- Fr Olvin Veigas, SJ
E-mail: olvinveigas@jesuits.net
Blog: Celebrate Faith
Video: YouTube
15 January 2026
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