2nd Sunday in Ordinary time. 2026

As we begin the season of Ordinary Time, the Church reminds us that there is nothing truly “ordinary” about our daily life of faith. Ordinary Time is about living the extraordinary presence of God in the everyday—where we work, where we serve, and where we love. It is where we continue John’s mission: to recognize Jesus in our midst and to help others see Him too.

My brothers and sisters, today’s Gospel takes us to the banks of the Jordan River. John the Baptist sees Jesus coming toward him and proclaims, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.”

We’ve heard those words so many times during Mass that they can easily pass us by, yet this moment in the Gospel is charged with power and meaning. For the Jewish people, the lamb was the symbol of sacrifice, especially the Passover lamb, recalling the Exodus, whose blood marked freedom and salvation. When John calls Jesus the Lamb of God, he is telling us that Jesus Himself is the true sacrifice, the One whose love will free us from sin and death.

John recognizes that his own mission—to prepare the way for the Lord—is now complete. He does not cling to the spotlight or insist on his own importance but instead, he points away from himself toward Christ. "He must increase, I must decrease" Jn 3:30. That humility is striking, deeply challenging and exemplary. In our own lives, we can easily fall into the temptation to be noticed, to want credit for what we do. John reminds us that the true disciple always points beyond self and toward Jesus.

The reading from Isaiah echoes that same calling: “I will make you a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.” God formed us from the beginning to share His light; Mt 5:14  tells us "You are the light of the world..." Each of us is called not only to believe in Christ but also to reveal His light in us, to be a living sign of His mercy and truth in our families, workplaces, and communities.

Saint Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians, greets them as people “sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be holy.” Notice that holiness is not reserved for a select few: it is the call of every baptized person. Holiness is not about being perfect; it’s about belonging to Christ, allowing His Spirit to shape our hearts and our actions.

So today, as we gather around the altar and hear again those familiar words—“Behold the Lamb of God”—may we truly look with the eyes of faith. May we recognize in the Eucharist the same Lamb whom John proclaimed, and may we carry His light into the world with courage and joy.

Behold the Lamb of God. Let that proclamation be ours this week and always in our words, in our actions, in the very way we love one another.

Peace.

Deacon Michel