Behold the Lamb of God

January 18, 2026

Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

Isaiah 49:3, 5-6 | Psalm 40:2, 4, 7-8, 8-9, 10 | 1 Corinthians 1:1-3 | John 1:29-34

Growing up, I was a huge sports fan. In my teenage years, I watched a fair bit of boxing with my dad. One of my favorite announcers was the iconic Michael Buffer, who coined the equally iconic catchphrase, "Let's get ready to rumble!" There was something electric about those moments — the anticipation, the drama, the sense that something big was about to happen.

I think about that feeling when I read today's Gospel. Picture in your mind, crowds gathered at the Jordan River; John the Baptist, the wild-eyed prophet from the desert, has been preparing hearts and minds for weeks. Then Jesus appears, walking toward him. John, in a voice every bit as powerful as Michael Buffer's, proclaims: "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" I have no doubt the crowd around John got way more chills down their spines than I ever did watching boxing because this wasn't entertainment; this was the announcement the world had been waiting for since the dawn of creation.

John tells us he saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove and remain upon Jesus. He testifies, "This is the Son of God." John was a witness — someone who saw something so profound, so life-changing, that he couldn't keep it to himself. He had to tell everyone.

Here is where Isaiah’s prophecy ties in beautifully. Hundreds of years earlier, God had already laid out the plan. The Messiah wouldn't just come for Israel. God says through Isaiah, "I will make you a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth." From the very beginning, God's plan was global, universal, and for everyone.

John's announcement at the Jordan wasn't just for the Jewish people standing there that day. It was for all of us — every nation, every generation. The Lamb of God takes away the sin of the world. Not just some of it, but all of it. Not just for some people, but for everyone who turns to Him.

So, what does this mean for us today? St. Paul gives us a clue in his letter to the Corinthians. He writes to the church at Corinth, who is "sanctified in Christ Jesus, and called to be holy." That's also us. We've been set apart. We've been called. But how do we live that out?

Psalm 40 gives us the roadmap. The psalmist tells us that God doesn't want burnt offerings and sacrifices. What He wants is something deeper: "Ears open to obedience." He wants us to say, as the psalmist does, "I delight to do your will, O my God."

It's not about checking boxes or going through the “religious” motions. It's about a heart that listens, a heart that delights in following God's way. That's holiness — not perfection, but a daily turning toward the Lord with open ears and a willing spirit.

John the Baptist saw something that changed everything: he witnessed God’s Spirit descending, and he couldn't stay silent. As Pope Leo XIV reminds us, "True witness is recognizing and pointing to Jesus when he appears." John didn't make it about himself. He pointed to the Lamb of God. We've received that same witness. We know who the Lamb of God is. We know He came as a light to all nations. And like John, we're called to point others toward Him — not with dramatic announcements, but through lives of quiet obedience, daily faithfulness, and genuine love.

So, as we go out into the world today, let's carry John's words with us: "Behold, the Lamb of God." Let's open our ears to obedience; let's delight in doing His will; and let us bear witness to our joyful faith in Christ the Savior.