“We are more troublesome to ourselves than anyone else” – St. Francis de Sales
Isaiah 49:3. 5-6
Psalm 39:2. 4.7-8
I Cor 1:1-3
John 1:29-34
Theme of the Sunday
THE VOCATION OF THE CHRISTIAN
The first reading shows how even in the Old Testament God chose for his mission of salvation a Servant who sought neither glory nor power
In the second reading Paul tells us that every Christian is “called” and therefore has a vocation.
The gospel is telling us that this vocation continues the vocation of Jesus, whom the Baptist calls “lamb of God”, that is, the one who gives himself up in sacrifice so that others may have life.
PSALM 39
INTEGRITY
See then, I said, I am coming to fulfil what is written of me, where the book lies unrolled; to do thy will, O my God, is all my desire, to carry out that law of thine which is written in my heart. And I told the story of thy just dealings before a great throng; be witness, Lord, that I do not seal my lips. Thy just dealings are no secret hidden away in my heart.
…You have a right, lord, to expect me to overcome that great temptation. You accomplished Your purpose; I must accomplish mine. The inclination to give up, to drop out is serious one. If the temptation is conquered and a full-willed decision is made, the battle is half won, the way is clear, the mind is at rest. If there be hesitation or postponement, and no choice is made between Christ and Satan, there may be false peace, there may be pleasure, ease, comfort of a sort, but in the appalling blindness there is never real happiness. And some day the realization will strike deeper than a sword.
I am made for one thing Lord, to become like You “To do thy will, Oh my God, is all my desire.” And I will never know true life until I accomplish just that. Lord, let no false peace ever deceive me. You know where my weakness is, and I can know it, too. Let me never have peace, until I have conquered my great weakness.
REFLECTION
The first reading talks about the vocation of the servant of Yahweh, the second about the vocation of the Christians of Corinth. We therefore would conclude that in the gospel we are going to listen to the vocation of Jesus.
We are just beginning a new season in our liturgy, hence it is worthy while that we present our Master as he begins his public life. But for Jesus we cannot speak of vocation, we cannot not say that “he was called from his mother’s womb” like all other prophets. Instead, the evangelist John uses the image of the Lamb of God to present to us the mission of Jesus who has come to take away the sins of the world.
By presenting Jesus as Lamb, John wants to tell us that he has come to give up his life and that his blood will free men from sin and from the forces of evil. He is taking up once more the theme of the humiliated Servant of the first reading: his defeat would bring light and salvation to all the people of the earth. Jesus too, says John, has come into the world to carry out that same mission and will make use of the same means.
The Baptist begins by saying, and he repeats it, that he did not know Jesus (V.31.33). This is a starting point for every catechumen: at first a catechumen does not really know Jesus; then he or she hears about him from some friend and maybe thinks of him as just a man, even if a good and wise one. Later God enlightened the Baptist and made him understand through special signs, how he should change his way of looking a Jesus. The catechumens have this same experience. They attend meetings and find themselves in particular circumstances that lead them to deeper reflection: they listen to instructions, dialogue with practicing Christians, experience spiritual events in the lives of the church.
The Baptist opens his eyes fully when one day he realizes that spirit of God is present and acts in Jesus. He then understands that he is the Lamb of God (count how many times the word “to see” is used in these few verses). The catechumen opens his/her eyes slowly till he discovers fully the true identity of Jesus. But, as in the time of the Baptist, not everybody follows the signs that lead to God; many follow the example of the Jews and refuse to see; for these Jesus will always be just another man.
Are we very sure that we have “seen” who Jesus really is and what his mission is? Have we understood that he is not a triumphant king, but a lamb who immolates himself so that men may have life? Will it be enough to see him as the faithful servant, admire him and thank him for all he has done? Will belief in his being the Lamb of God not demand some radical change in the life of our communities? What are the initiatives which show clearly that we Christians are carrying on the mission begun by the Lamb of God? Who are those who expect help from us?
The last stage in spiritual course of the Baptist is his acknowledgement that Jesus is the son of God (V.34). From then on, he becomes a witness and informs everybody of his discovery. The catechumen, who has discovered that Jesus is the light and the salvation of the world, feels the need to inform others of his or her joy. The Baptist speaks about what he has seen, while the Christians should speak only of what they have experienced, should recount only what the Spirit is doing within their communities.
“He that will have none but a perfect brother must resign himself to remain brotherless”. (Italian Proverb)
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