Homily: Second Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A Jesus, the Messiah
Homily:
Second Sunday Ordinary Year A
Reading:
There are three Suffering Servant Songs in Isaiah in which the prophet
identifies the future Messiah. Last Sunday, the first reading was also from the
Book of Isaiah, the prophet. The selection was the first of these three
Suffering Servant songs. Today, we heard from the second Suffering servant
Song. The prophet calls him a servant through whom God will show forth his
glory. As a servant he will depend on God for the strength to accomplish his
will. Jesus said that he will glorify
the Father. He did so by embracing the will of the Father even to the death of
the cross.
This
servant, Isaiah said, was formed in the womb. The Word of God, the Son of God,
became flesh and dwelt with us. This servant, who is God become man, will not
only bring salvation to Israel, the chosen people, but also will be a light to
all nations, bringing them salvation as well. He is made glorious in God’s
sight. God raised Jesus, his servant/son up from death and exalted him at his
right hand, giving him the name above all names, so that at the name of Jesus
all may bow down to the glory of the Father.
Gospel:
Isaiah identified the future Messiah as a servant who would save his people
through suffering death. John the Baptist identifies him as the Lamb of God who
takes away sin. A lamb is sacrificed. As the chosen people in bondage sacrificed
a lamb, ate it, and mark their doorposts with its blood, experienced freedom,
so through Jesus’ blood on the cross freed us from the bondage of sin.
John
identifies him further as existing before him. Even though in time John was
conceived and born before Jesus, in eternity the Son of God existed before he
became the son of man.
John
knew him as his cousin, but did not know him as the Messiah. John was sent to
prepare the way for the coming of the Messiah by calling people into repentance
and acknowledging their desire to repent by being baptized. The Spirit revealed
to John that the Messiah would be identified by the coming of the Spirit upon
one he would baptized.
When
Jesus come to be baptized as a sign of his public commitment to the will of the
Father, John at first refuses because he felt unworthy to do so. Jesus insisted
and said it is the will of God.
After
Jesus’ baptism, John saw the Spirit of God resting upon Jesus, confirming the
message he had received. That is why he proclaimed afterwards “Behold the Lamb
of God. Behold the Messiah.”
He
said Jesus would baptize with the Holy Spirit. Jesus’ baptism is not a
preparation but the fulfillment of God’s mercy. Our sins are forgiven and the
Spirit of God dwells in us, sharing God’s divine life with us, calling us his
adopted children.
Reading
2: Just as Isaiah was called by God to be a prophet, Paul says he had been
called by God to be an apostle of Jesus. As John the Baptism was sent to
prepare the way for the Messiah, Paul was sent to proclaim the Good News of
salvation.
What
should our response be to this Good News, both of John and Paul? As we commit
our lives to Christ who takes away our sins, we are called to be holy,
consecrated to Jesus. We have been consecrated in baptism and commissioned to
share in the life of Jesus as priest, prophet and king. We have been made a
temple of the Holy Spirit in baptism, anointed and empowered to be holy
witnesses of Jesus to others in the power of the Holy Spirit. As Paul pointed
Jesus out to others, so we are called to do the same.
How
conscious are we of our vocation to be holy? How conscious are we pursuing
holiness? How attentive are we to the daily, divine appointments from God to
witness him to others?
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