2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
15th January 2023 (Saturday) Readings and Reflection
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Reading of the Day
First Reading: ISAIAH 49. 3, 5-6
3.And he said to me, “You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified.”5.And now the Lord says, he who formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him; and that Israel might be gathered to him— for I am honored in the eyes of the Lord, and my God has become my strength— 6.he says: “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”
PSALM 40: 2 and 4ab, 7-8a, 8b-9, 10 (R. 8a and 9a)
Response: See, I have come, Lord, to do your will.
Second Reading: 1 CORINTHIANS 1. 1-3
1.Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes, 2.To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours: 3.Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Gospel : JOHN 1. 29-34
13.He went out again beside the sea, and all the crowd was coming to him, and he was teaching them. 14.And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him. 15.And as he reclined at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. 16.And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 17.And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Daily Gospel Reflection
The Reflection by Fr. Thumma Mariadas Reddy MSFS{alertWarning}
Main Theme: Experience and Witness!
Indicative: We are called to see and experience God’s love personally and deeply. That experience should also lead us to bear witness to it{alertSuccess}
1. Today’s Word of God highlights and revolves around the theme of “Testimony”. In the first reading, the prophet bears testimony. In the second reading, Paul bears testimony. In the gospel, John the Baptist bears testimony.
2. The prophet testifies to his identity as God’s servant, Paul, as an apostle, and John the Baptist, as the baptiser and precursor of the Messiah. Accordingly, the prophet testifies to his mission to “bring back Israel, to raise up and restore them”. It is a mission of becoming a “light to the nations”, so that God’s salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.
3. Paul testifies to his mission as an apostle who helps and sustains the faithful in their being sanctified in Christ Jesus, in living their call to be holy, and in ensuring grace and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
4. John the Baptist testifies to his mission as a testimony to the identity of Jesus as the Son of God and the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. He is the pre-existent one. He is the one, overshadowed and filled by the Holy Spirit. He would remain with the Holy Spirit and baptise all with the Holy Spirit.
5. This testimony is marked by conviction, deep humility, surrender, and commitment. None of these, that is neither the prophet nor the apostle nor the Baptiser was puffed up by the greatness of their vocation. The prophet was the mouthpiece of God; the apostle was the spiritual father and leader of the communities; and the Baptiser was the precursor to the Messiah. But they never put on airs.
6. Their life was an unfailing and unceasing act of surrender. Their only focus was doing God’s will. And for that sake, they would set aside and give up all their personal interests and plans. They would willingly accept and bear affliction and persecution. They were totally and unswervingly committed to the mission entrusted to them.
7. Today, the same identity is ours. The same mission is also ours. Our identity is being servants, prophets, spokesmen, apostles, spiritual fathers and leaders, and precursors with the same implications. Our mission in essence is to bear testimony, to testify to the Lord, that is his own identity and mission.
Imperative: The living of our identity and mission becomes possible only by deepening our conviction and passion for the Lord{alertSuccess}