2nd Sunday, Year A: Homily by Fr. Isaac Chima

Theme: Two Beautiful Ways to Bring Friends to Christ

Readings: Is 49:3, 5–6; 1 Cor 1:1–3; Jn 1:29–34

Dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, the Church gives us an important mission this week, one that ought to guide our steps throughout the year. On the feast of the Baptism of the Lord, we were reminded that through our own baptism we have taken up the mission of Christ and are called to reflect His light to the world. This Sunday, through the example of John the Baptist and the teaching of St Paul to the Corinthians, the Church again reminds us of our mission: to carry the light of Christ to others and to bring people to Christ.

In the first reading, the Church presents the Suffering Servant of God from the prophecy of Isaiah. His mission was to bring back the scattered children of Israel to God. Chosen from birth, he was commissioned to be a light that would draw the exiled children of Israel back to the Lord. In the same way, God has chosen us from the moment of our conception and has commissioned us through baptism to bring back to Him friends who have wandered into the world of sin, friends who do not yet know the saving grace of Christ, and friends who have been confused or misled by the world’s false teachings.

But how do we fulfil this mission of bringing our friends to Christ? The second reading and the Gospel offer us two beautiful ways: announcing Christ to our friends and living a holy life among them.

In today’s Gospel, John the Baptist announced Christ to his audience. When he saw Jesus, he proclaimed, “Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” Jesus had come to His people, yet many did not recognize Him as the Christ. John, therefore, took it upon himself to introduce Jesus to the people by bearing witness to Him. He was standing with his own disciples, but the moment he saw Jesus, he pointed Him out as the Christ—the one who would free them from sin and darkness. The verses following today’s passage tell us that two of John’s disciples immediately began to follow Jesus.

Dear friends, Jesus has come to us, yet many of our friends still do not recognize Him. Many do not know who He truly is. Our mission this week—and this year—is to do what John did: introduce Jesus to our friends, speak to them about His teachings, share His mercy, and remind them of His desire to rescue them from the distant lands where they have wandered. We must find the right moments and the right ways to share the Word of God. And we should not fear that speaking about Christ will offend them, for the Word of God has the power to soften even the hardest heart. Do not be afraid to proclaim the Word—its effect may surprise you.

In the second reading, St Paul gives us another essential way to bring Christ to others, one that complements our spoken witness. This is the way of living a holy life before our friends. If our lifestyle contradicts the message we proclaim, our friends will not be convinced by our words.

St Paul was writing to Christians in Corinth, a city known for immorality. These Christians, like us, were called to announce Christ to their friends in that sinful environment. Paul reminded them that their mission also includes living as saints—living holy lives. The most effective way to convert others is by living an exemplary life, by embodying daily the message we proclaim. This does not require extraordinary deeds, but rather doing ordinary things in an extraordinary way.

Our mission to announce Christ includes living a life worthy of imitation—a life that communicates the Gospel without words. If we preach peace, we must give peace. If we preach holiness, we must live holy lives. If we preach love, we must show love. If we preach charity, we must be charitable. If we preach truthfulness, we must speak the truth. If we preach mercy, we must show mercy.

We must not allow ourselves to be corrupted by the sinful environment we are called to evangelize. We must not sow doubt between our message and our lifestyle.

In summary, with the examples of John the Baptist in the Gospel and St Paul in the second reading, the Church reminds us that we have a mission: to announce Christ to our friends and to live lives that do not contradict the message we bear.

As we celebrate today's Mass, let us open our hearts to this mission and pray with the psalmist: “Behold, Lord, I have come to do your will.”

Peace be with you.

Rev. Fr. Isaac Chinemerem Chima

 2^ND SUNDAY, YEAR A: REFLECTION BY FR JULIAN EKEH

THEME: RECOGNISE WHO COMES AND WHY

(John 1:29-34)

Today in the Gospel Reading, John looked and saw Jesus coming towards him. Recognising Him, he called out to the people around him in great exclamation: " Behold the lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

Let us consider how to recognise what people are coming with, know really what they come into our lives to do and what we should do in people's life.

 

KNOW WHO IS COMING

It is good you look far. It is important for us to try to see beyond what appears but dig deep to recognise those coming. To this effect, you've got to look out for the signs with which you recognise people. Do not be deceived by what they present themselves to be. Try rather to see them as the Lord would. Look and see. See well. To see well, put on the divine spectacle. Do it like John the Baptist. Look for what God would say about him/ her and how he/she reflects the word of God. John remembered immediately what God said about Jesus Christ: “He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain...” This is interesting. He is not just one who claims to be but one who really is. He is not just one upon whom the spirit descended but one upon whom the Spirit remains. If the person is just a carnal person, be careful; if he is not coming to uplift you spiritually, beware! If he doesn't care about your edification, flee from him. Just recognise the packages he is coming with and know whether he comes to give or take and what he gives as well as what he takes, whether what he comes to take is what he should take and whether what he gives is what should be given. Know if he is indeed a friend or an enemy.

 

The Bible tells us what the enemy comes to do: to steal, kill and destroy. But Jesus comes for abundant life. The real friend enhances your life positively.

 

TO TAKE AWAY

Jesus' coming was to take away sin, evil, and vices. What are we called to take away in the life of people around us? Instead of taking away sins, many act as Nigerian epileptic electricity companies who take away the lights to introduce darkness, who take away power to bring about weakened progress, who abort development and encourage mediocrity.

What are we supposed to take away? We are called to take away injustice, political instability, greed, marginalization, deceit, bribery and corruption, moral, religious and cultural decay, terrorism, and destruction of life and property. Take away everything that puts a question mark on your call to be human, to be a Christian, to be holy. This oppression "Take Away" should begin with oneself and extend to others. When you've taken away, by the grace of Jesus Christ in you, all that is not good, then you're called to move into the lives of others to help them out, to take away too whatever that is sinful in them. Also, we are encouraged to be docile and allow good-spirited people around us to take away, by the power of the word, through advice, through corrections, and through admonitions, all infirmities in us.

 

TO PUT IN

Some people come into our lives to give, to make a positive mark, to introduce avenues of success, open doors, knowledge, wisdom, to actually help us to bring out the best in us. These people have something to offer always. When you encounter them, you will never remain the same. You must be a changed person for good, old things must be put away, and new things begin to take place in you. They give in a lot to make you better without counting. Like Jesus Christ, they are ready to make sacrifices.

Jesus offered a special type of baptism even different and higher than that of John the Baptist. Jesus brought with Him what became an open door, what served as a gateway to joy everlasting. They can offer you peace in your marriage, joy and hope in your disappointments, love when you feel unloved, strength in your weakness, job in joblessness, a way out in your troubles, advice in your confusions, and direction in your doubt. They bring in and bring back into your life all the good things you may have lost.

 

RESOLVE/PRAYERS

Know who is coming into your life and why he comes. Take away vices from your life. Take in virtues and graces into your life. Let the Spirit of God remain in you for discernment, and may God take away the consequences of your sins and lavish His grace gratuitously in your life through Christ our Lord. Amen

Happy Sunday to you, (2nd Sunday, Ordinary Time, Yr A)

Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh