Second Sunday in ordinary time year A

Second Sunday in ordinary time year A

Isaiah 49:3.5-6

Psalm 40

1 Corinthians 1:1-3

John 1:29:34

Dear friends, we have finished the Christmas season with the baptism of the Lord and now we are in the ordinary time as we are getting ready to start the Lenten season in a few weeks. Today being the second Sunday in ordinary time, I would like us to reflect on the theme: “God has elected us to fulfill his promises”.

In order that the promises of God should be fulfilled, he has chosen the people of Israel among the other nations. As a nation, Israel was a servant of the Lord not as we understand but a servant who is like a beloved son of the Lord. God never considered Israel as other gods do to their nations on the contrary he has chosen Israel as a beloved nation. And because God loved his nation; he commanded them to be the light among all nations. Dear friends, we fulfill the promises of the Lord by carrying out the light to others.

Dear friends, you and I are the servants of the Lord, we have been called to serve him faithfully. But the question is are we carrying out our tasks faithfully as servants. Today, the prophet Isaiah is inviting us to be light in the world.

Through the election of his Son, God has fulfilled his promises. Thus in the Gospel of today, Saint John gave us a testimony about Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God. First of all, he said that “Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world”. Jesus is considered a lamb because he has sacrificed his life for the sinners we are so that we may have God’s favor. Just as in the Old Testament lambs were been sacrificed for cleansing the sins of individuals and of the entire nation, through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, all our sins are being forgiven. John also testified about Jesus that the Spirit of the Lord descended upon him. This is a sign that Jesus’s mission was approved by God the Father. Meaning that he was carrying out the mission of his Father, a mission according to which the promises of God have been fulfilled. Lastly, saint John confirmed to us that Jesus is the Son of God, and as the Son of God, he was at the service of his Father.

Dear friends, these three elements that saint John pointed out in regard to Jesus are signs that God has chosen him to fulfill his promises. And we who are his followers and who call ourselves Christians, are called upon to follow his footstep, though he was God, he humbled himself for our salvation and sanctification.

The second reading taken from the first letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians is a reminder to the Corinthians that they have been sanctified in Jesus, therefore they must carry out their mission as servants. Just as Saint Paul himself mentioned it to them “Paul, called by the will of God, to be an apostle” meaning he did not call himself on the contrary, God has called him; as a result of this calling, Paul devoted his whole life to mission in order to fulfill God’s promises to Gentiles which is spreading the word of God among them. Today, dear friends we are also called to follow the footstep of Saint Paul who through his leadership, has fulfilled the promises of God.

May we continue reflecting upon the theme of today “God has elected us to fulfill his promises” by asking ourselves, are we really fulfilling and participating in God’s mission? May he help us to be faithful servants who do their duties out of goodwill not out of obligation, amen.

Fr. Issere Agre