Here I am Lord

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Second Sunday in Ordinary Time Mass Readings

First Reading: Isaiah 49:3, 5-6
Responsorial: Psalm 40:2, 4, 7-10
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:1-3
Gospel: John 1:29-34

http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/011920.cfm
https://www.deaconrudysnotes.org/

My brothers and sisters, today’s readings remind us that we are called. In our first reading, Isaiah was called to serve the Lord as His prophet. In the second reading, Paul was called to serve the Lord as His apostle. The person whose coming Isaiah was called to proclaim and whom Paul was sent to preach about is Jesus Christ. In today’s Gospel, we hear that Jesus was called to be the Savior of humanity.

Like Isaiah and Paul, we disciples are called to serve through Christ Jesus. Remember, being a disciple means accepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior, wanting to deepen our relationship with Jesus, and to go out into the world to bring the Good News to everyone we encounter – what Pope Francis calls being a missionary disciple. So, today’s readings remind us of our call rooted in our baptism.

Now this doesn’t mean that we all need to set out to become full time or part time missionaries in a foreign country. We may not all be physically capable of that sort of challenge. Nonetheless, we are called to serve in whatever capacity we can no matter whether we are 7 or 70! There are a myriad of ways that we can use our gifts, talents and resources to help advance the mission of Jesus Christ – to continue on our individual journeys to the Father and to reach out to those who have not heard or not accepted the Good News of Jesus Christ.

How is this possible? How is it that Jesus wants to use a person like me to reach out to other people? Through this beautiful church that Jesus established, he blesses us with the sacraments, and the sacraments equip us with God’s grace to help us, to heal us, to strengthen us so that we have the confidence to reach out to others – so that we can be a light of Christ for the nations.

I realize that might sound like a tall order, and you might be thinking to yourself, “Who, me?” But by our baptism, we are all called. The council fathers wrote, “All Christians in any state or walk of life are called to the fullness of Christian life and to the perfection of charity,” (Lumen Gentium, §40).

We are not called to be pew potatoes or pew warmers – no! We are all called to serve and that begins with the people closest to us, like our family and friends, and to those we encounter each and every day. Yes, for some of us, this might be a great challenge, but that’s what it means to be disciples – that’s what it means to be saints.

“Ok now deacon, slow your roll! Who are you calling a saint?” You and me. Well, if not saints, then we are saints in training. Look, Oscar Wilde once wrote, “Every saint has a past and every sinner has a future.” So, it doesn’t matter where you’ve come from or what you’ve done. What matters is your baptism – your being redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ – and your willingness to confess your sins and allow yourself to be healed.

All it takes is your “yes”. You see, God will never force Himself on you. So, you – each of us needs to say “yes” and cooperate in God’s plan present in the mission of His Church – to save souls and to build up the Kingdom of God. Are you ready? Then repeat after me: Here I am, Lord, I come to do your will.

Homework! After being nourished by His Word and His real and divine presence in the Eucharist, I encourage you to reflect on the following two questions this week:

1. In the Gospel we read, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” What sins do I need to ask God to forgive in his mercy? How am I open to God’s grace working in me to take away sin?
2. We also read, “A man is coming after me who ranks ahead of me because he existed before me.” What prejudices or biases do I bring to my interactions with others? How can I more intentionally see Christ in those I meet?

I think that doing our homework will help us as disciples reach out to a dark world that desperately needs to hear a message of hope. Do you got it? Do you get it? Good! Now go make disciples! May Almighty God bless you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit! +Amen!

References:

1. Hoisington, Thomas. “2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time – January 19, 2020.” Homiletic & Pastoral Review, January 2020. Accessed 11 January 2020.
2. Lectio Divina Of The Gospels. Washington, D.C.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2019.
3. Martin, Francis and William M. Wright IV. The Gospel of John. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2015.
4. Montague, George T., SM. First Corinthians. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2011.

Catechism Links: Easily search the Catechism at http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc.htm

1. Jesus, only Son of God, 441-45
2. Jesus’ baptism, 535-37, 1223-25
3. All called to holiness, 542-43, 2013-14
4. Lamb of God, 608
5. Christ’s death as the definitive sacrifice, 613-14
6. Holiness of the Church, 825
7. One, holy, Catholic and apostolic church, 811-70
8. Union with Christ, 1694

Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 64
Mass Readings
First Reading
Isaiah 49:3, 5-6
The LORD said to me: You are my servant,
Israel, through whom I show my glory.
Now the LORD has spoken
who formed me as his servant from the womb,
that Jacob may be brought back to him
and Israel gathered to him;
and I am made glorious in the sight of the LORD,
and my God is now my strength!
It is too little, the LORD says, for you to be my servant,
to raise up the tribes of Jacob,
and restore the survivors of Israel;
I will make you a light to the nations,
that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.

Responsorial
Psalm 40:2, 4, 7-8, 8-9, 10
R/ (8a and 9a) Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.
I have waited, waited for the LORD,
and he stooped toward me and heard my cry.
And he put a new song into my mouth,
a hymn to our God.
R/ Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.
Sacrifice or offering you wished not,
but ears open to obedience you gave me.
Holocausts or sin-offerings you sought not;
then said I, “Behold I come.”
R/ Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.
“In the written scroll it is prescribed for me,
to do your will, O my God, is my delight,
and your law is within my heart!”
R/ Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.
I announced your justice in the vast assembly;
I did not restrain my lips, as you, O LORD, know.
R/ Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.

Second Reading
1 COR 1:1-3
Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,
and Sosthenes our brother,
to the church of God that is in Corinth,
to you who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be holy,
with all those everywhere who call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours.
Grace to you and peace from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Alleluia
John 1:14A, 12A
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Word of God became flesh and dwelt among us.
To those who accepted him,
he gave power to become children of God.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel
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 heaven
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.”