Light of Jesus Christ
A
Reflection on the 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year A
The readings for this Second Sunday in
Ordinary Time weave together a beautiful example of calling, witness, and
identity. In Isaiah, we encounter the Servant who will be "a light to the
nations," someone whose mission extends far beyond what anyone initially
imagined. The prophet speaks of restoration for Israel, yes, but God declares
this is "too little", the Servant's purpose reaches to the ends of
the earth. This expansive vision of salvation prepares us for what we see in
John's Gospel, where John the Baptist stands at the Jordan River and proclaims
the truth about Jesus: "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of
the world." John witnessed the Holy Spirit descending upon Jesus like a
dove, and this sign confirmed what he had been told, that Jesus is the Son of
God. John's entire mission was to point beyond himself to the One who would
baptize not with water, but with the Holy Spirit. He embraced his role as a
witness, understanding that the greatest privilege is not to be the light, but
to testify to the Light.
When we pray the Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary, we walk through the public
life of Jesus, beginning with His Baptism in the Jordan, the very moment John
describes in today's Gospel. As we meditate on that first Luminous Mystery, we
stand alongside John the Baptist, watching the heavens open and the Holy Spirit
descend. The Rosary invites us to enter these sacred moments not as distant
observers but as participants in the mystery of our faith. Each Hail Mary
becomes an act of witness, echoing John's proclamation across the centuries.
Just as John testified to what he had seen, we testify through our prayers, our
lives, and our willingness to point others toward Jesus. The Rosary connects us
to this ancient river baptism, reminding us that we too have been called to be
witnesses, to see with spiritual eyes what God is doing in our world.
This theme of witness and mission runs like a golden thread through all three
readings. Isaiah's Servant, John the Baptist, and ultimately each baptized
Christian shares the same fundamental calling: to be a light that draws others
to God's salvation. We are not meant to keep our faith private or hidden. Like
John, we have seen something, perhaps not a dove descending from heaven, but we
have experienced God's mercy, encountered Jesus in the Eucharist, felt the
consolation of prayer, or witnessed how grace transforms lives. Our Catholic
faith gives us the great privilege and responsibility of testifying to these
realities. When we pray the Rosary, we are training ourselves in the art of
contemplation and witness. We gaze upon the mysteries of Jesus' life so that we
can better recognize Him at work in our own time and place. The beads pass
through our fingers as we ask Mary to help us see as she saw, to believe as she
believed, and to say yes as she said yes at the Annunciation.
The beauty of today's readings is that they remind us of our calling is both
intimate and universal. God knows each of us by name, forms us in the womb for
a specific purpose, yet that purpose always involves others, it extends outward
like ripples on water. John the Baptist shows us what it means to embrace our
identity fully: he knew exactly who he was and, just as importantly, who he was
not. He was the voice, not the Word. He was the lamp, not the Light. Yet in accepting
this truth, he found his greatest joy and fulfilled his sacred purpose. We too
must discover who God has called us to be, not someone else, not some
impossible ideal, but the unique, unrepeatable person God envisioned when He
created us. The Rosary supports us in this discovery, for in contemplating
Jesus through Mary's eyes, we come to understand our own identity as beloved
children of the Father, brothers and sisters of Jesus, temples of the Holy
Spirit. From this secure foundation, we can go forth as lights to our families,
workplaces, and communities, confident that God's grace is sufficient for
whatever witness He calls us to give.
Questions to Consider
- John the Baptist's entire identity was wrapped up
in pointing to Jesus. In what specific ways does my life point others
toward Jesus, and where might I be accidentally pointing toward myself
instead?
- When I pray the Luminous Mysteries, especially the
Baptism of the Lord, do I ask the Holy Spirit to show me what He wants me
to witness to in my own life? What might God be asking me to testify about
from my own experience?
- Isaiah was told that his mission was bigger than
he imagined, "too little" to stop at Israel alone. Have I
limited God's plans for my life by assuming my influence must be small, or
have I asked Him to show me the full scope of how He might want to use me?
- John recognized Jesus because he was watching for
the sign God had promised him. Am I attentive enough in my prayer life and
daily routine to recognize when God is showing me something important, or
do I rush through my days spiritually distracted?
- The Lamb of God "takes away the sin of the
world", not just my personal sins, but the sin of the entire world.
How does this global, cosmic understanding of Jesus' mission affect how I
pray, how I see current events, and how I understand my responsibility to
care about others beyond my immediate circle?
©2026 James Dacey, Jr., OFS
