THE SERVANT OF THE LORD

II SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - John 1:29-34

This Sunday’s readings are still connected to the celebration of the Lord’s baptism, making even more explicit the identity of the Messiah as the Servant of the Lord. The book of Isaiah presents four poetic passages about the Servant of the Lord: Isaiah 42:1–9, 49:1–7, 50:4–9, and 52:13–53:12. Last Sunday, during the Feast of the Baptism, we read the first passage; today, we read the second. He was formed in the womb and called to be a servant. He is entrusted with the mission of gathering the people of Israel and bringing them back to God. This servant is destined to be more than a servant. He will have a universal mission: “I will make you the light of the nations so that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth” (Is 49:6). Jesus is the one who assumed the role of a servant. He is the Light of the world (Jn 8:12), and in Him we find life and salvation.

This Sunday’s gospel develops the idea of the servant, stressing his identity and his mission. John the Baptist gives public testimony to Jesus, proclaiming him as the Lamb of God and the Son of God. He came to be the true Lamb of God, offering himself as the sacrifice of the new covenant and accepting to give his life “for the forgiveness of sins” (Mt 26:28). In him and through him, we are reconciled to the Father. And all this is possible because he is the Chosen One, the Son of God.

In the second reading, taken from 1 Corinthians 1:1-3, Paul presents himself as an apostle appointed by God to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ. He addresses the Corinthians as “the holy people of Jesus Christ”, who pray to Jesus Christ because he is their Lord and our Lord as well. It is from him that we receive “grace and peace”.

The responsorial psalm gives voice to the attitude of the servant who comes to do the will of his master:

You do not ask for sacrifice and offerings,

  but an open ear.

You do not ask for holocaust and victim.

  Instead, here am I. (Psalm 40)

Jesus Christ is our Lord, the Lord of lords and the King of kings. Let us live this year under his lordship.