THE MISSION OF THE DISCIPLE. (Homily for January 15, 2017. Sunday of the 1st Week in Ordinary Time).

Bible Study: Isaiah 49, 3 to 6. 1 Corinthians 1, 1 to 3 and John 1, 29 to 34.


Last Sunday, we celebrated the Feast of the Epiphany of Jesus, the manifestation of his identity to the world as King, Priest and Saviour. The story of the wise men who came bringing gifts from the East shows us that we all are part of the salvation that Christ Jesus has come to bring to the world. In the Epiphany of Jesus, we see the gifts of the wise men showing Jesus to the world as no ordinary person. Today, we see the words of John the Baptist doing exactly the same thing.

John saw Jesus coming towards him and said: “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” If not for John the Baptist, many would not have known Jesus. This is because, at this time, John the Baptist had already established himself as a prophet and already had a crowd following him. Even the Jews sent priests and Levites to ask about his identity in John 1:18-24. John the Baptist would redirect that same crowd before whom he had gained some popularity to Jesus.

By showing Jesus to the world, John the Baptist becomes a model for all of us Christians. He becomes what our First reading today describes as the “Light to the Nations.” Like a torchlight in a dark room, John the Baptist having attracted a lot of persons to himself by his way of life and preaching, he pointed the way to Jesus. Even more than that, he perfectly described Jesus as the Lamb whose blood will be shed for the remission of the sins of the world.

Jesus himself would tell us in Matthew 5:14-16 “You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” As Disciples of Christ, we all have one goal- our mission is to live in such a way that we become lights like John the Baptist to the world.

We should be able to point people to Jesus. We should offer Jesus to others. Our lives should so reflect not only our understanding of Jesus as the Lamb of God but our love and admiration for Jesus. Something about us should direct the attention of people to Jesus. John the Baptist said: “After me comes a man who ranks before me, for he was before me…” How often do we talk about Jesus to others?

In other for us to effectively carry out our mission as lights to the world pointing others to Jesus, we must be attuned to the Holy Spirit. A Christian whose spiritual life is dead is like a light bulb that never shines even when there is electricity. When we are not concerned about growth in the Spiritual life, we become deaf to the promptings of the Holy Spirit who is always by our side. John the Baptist was spiritually awake and alert. That was how he got to know who Jesus was. In his testimony he declared: “I did not know him; but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me: ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.”

The Holy Spirit is always ready to inspire us and give us certain knowledge that is far deeper than the ordinary eyes can acquire. But if we lack an interior life, if we don’t take out time to listen to the Holy Spirit, we would not hear anything. We must hear from God always if we must live in a manner that truly testifies to the existence of God. It is not surprising today that many Christians rather than pointing the world to Christ are doing the very opposite by the way they live. It was Mahatma Gandhi who said: “I like your Christ, but I don’t like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.”

How can we point the world to Christ? Our responsorial psalm answers: “See, I have come, Lord, to do your will.” This should be our disposition in life. The willingness to do the will of God at all times is what actually makes us lights to the world. And what is the will of God for us? That we keep his commandments and live above sin. The Psalmist declares: “In the scroll of the book it stands written of me: I delight to do your will, O my God; your instruction lies deep within me.” God’s instruction must never depart from our hearts and lives. When we try to be like everyone else in the world, we only end up betraying our true identity as pointers to Christ.

Above all, as St. Paul prayed for the Corinthians in the beginning of his letter from where we took our second reading today, we must constantly pray for ourselves and for one another that the grace and peace from God may push us always to do what is right and pleasing in the sight of God.

Let us Pray: Lord Jesus, may I become another John the Baptist by the way I live. Amen.

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. Happy new week

Fr. Abu.


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