Behold, the Lamb of God.

SATURDAY 4 JANUARY (Jn 1,35-42)

Jesus, from John the Baptist, is presented as “The Lamb of God”. He is the Lamb of the New Easter. The Lamb of Ancient Easter was only a figure: “On the tenth of this month every one of your families must procure for itself a lamb, one apiece for each household. The lamb must be a year-old male and without blemish. You shall keep it until the fourteenth day of this month, and then, with the whole assembly of Israel present, it shall be slaughtered during the evening twilight. They shall take some of its blood and apply it to the two doorposts and the lintel of every house in which they partake of the lamb. That same night they shall eat its roasted flesh with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. “This is how you are to eat it: with your loins girt, sandals on your feet and your staff in hand, you shall eat like those who are in flight. It is the Passover of the Lord. For on this same night I will go through Egypt, striking down every first – born of the land, both man and beast, I, the Lord! But the blood will mark the houses where you are. Seeing the blood, I will pass over you; thus, when I strike the land of Egypt, no destructive blow will come upon you” (Ex 12,3-13). This Lamb freed from death with its blood. It gave the strength to take the path of liberation with its eaten meat.

But man always remained in his old nature, shattered and torn by sin. Another Lamb was needed, a Lamb capable of destroying sin and bringing into the heart of man the grace that regenerates and gives new life. This Lamb is announced by the prophet Isaiah: “Yet it was our infirmities that he bore, our sufferings that he endured, While we thought of him as stricken, as one smitten by God and afflicted. But he was pierced for our offenses, crushed for our sins, Upon him was the chastisement that makes us whole, by his stripes we were healed. We had all gone astray like sheep, each following his own way; But the Lord laid upon him the guilt of us all. Though he was harshly treated, he submitted and opened not his mouth; Like a lamb led to the slaughter or a sheep before the shearers, he was silent and opened not his mouth. Oppressed and condemned, he was taken away, and who would have thought any more of his destiny? When he was cut off from the land of the living, and smitten for the sin of his people, A grave was assigned him among the wicked and a burial place with evildoers, Though he had done no wrong nor spoken any falsehood. (But the Lord was pleased to crush him in infirmity.) If he gives his life as an offering for sin, he shall see his descendants in a long life, and the will of the Lord shall be accomplished through him. Because of his affliction he shall see the light in fullness of days; Through his suffering, my servant shall justify many, and their guilt he shall bear” (Cf. Is 52,13-53,12). Both Lambs are necessary to man: the former frees and gives strength to walk. The latter regenerates and gives new life.

The next day John was there again with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he said, “Behold, the Lamb of God.” The two disciples heard what he said and followed Jesus. Jesus turned and saw them following him and said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which translated means Teacher), “where are you staying?” He said to them, “Come, and you will see.” So they went and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day. It was about four in the afternoon. Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, was one of the two who heard John and followed Jesus. He first found his own brother Simon and told him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated Anointed). Then he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John; you will be called Kephas” (which is translated Peter).

From this announcement of John the Baptist begins the new history of humanity. Two of his disciples abandon their first teacher and follow Jesus. They remain with him. They know him. They choose him. They bring to him. Andrew talks to his brother of Jesus and presents him like the Christ of God. He brings him to Him. Jesus welcomes him and changes his name, a sign of a new life, new vocation and new mission. It also applies to us. If we all had the courage to announce Christ according to truth, everything would change.

Mother of God, Angels and Saints, make us true and daring witnesses of the truth of Lord Jesus.