Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.  We should see and know him so if we want to be his true witnesses.

The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world is the lamb of expiation.  That is, Jesus hands over himself as a sacrifice for our sins and those of the whole world.

And ‘expiation’ makes us think that he dies to appease God’s wrath.  Yet should Jesus pay for our sins to appease God, he then would save us from God (Madeleine L’Engle).

Besides, what justice would there be in that God should pour out his wrath on his blameless Son?  Would not God look sadistic?  A God who, to soothe his wrath, seeks the death of his beloved Son?

But God is love, a kind Father.  This God cannot be the Lord who demands that we pay our debt down to the last penny.

No, Jesus does not die to show God’s wrath against sinners and to appease it.  He dies since he loves us very much.  He thus shows how God loves us and lets us know that God is love.

Since he loves us, the Lamb of God takes away our sins.  For this lamb of expiation forgives our sins and covers them and does not hold against us our guilt.

Even more, he loves us so much that he does not turn back, though he does not chase death either.  And in this way, he teaches us to love, not to be selfish and greedy at all.  For only through such love, unselfishness, generosity, can we avoid death and gain life.

Also, as he loves us to giving up his body and shedding his blood, Jesus reveals God’s boundless love.  And if we love like the Lamb of God, we will be his true witnesses.

Lord Jesus, grant that your two great virtues be ours also:  reverence toward the Father and charity toward humans (SV.EN VI:413).  And help us to grasp that charity is above all rules (SV.EN X:478).  That only love is credible and trustworthy.  And make us, who call upon your name, true servants like you.  We will thus truly testify that you are the Lamb of God who take away the sin of the world.  That you are the Son of God.

18 January 2026
2nd Sunday in O.T. (A)
Is 49, 3. 5-6; 1 Cor 1, 1-3; Jn 1, 29-34