Homily 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A I Homily 18 January 2026 Year A

 https://youtu.be/lvUHubxa2iI

My dear friends today we celebrate the Second Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A. The

readings of today invite us to rediscover who Jesus truly is and who we are called to be in

Him. They remind us that God’s call, God’s mercy, and God’s light are greater than our past,

our failures, and our fears.

The first reading, taken from the prophet Isaiah, is known as the Second Servant Song These

words were spoken during the time of Israel’s exile in Babylon, when the people felt

defeated, forgotten, and without hope. Into this situation, the prophet speaks of a mysterious

“Servant of the Lord” chosen from the womb and formed for a special mission. The Servant

is called “Israel,” showing that he represents the people as a whole. God says that bringing

Jacob back is “too small a thing.” The Servant is also chosen to be “a light to the nations,” so

that God’s salvation may reach “to the ends of the earth.” This reveals God’s heart: His love

is not limited to one people but is meant for all. For Christians, this passage finds its fullest

meaning in Jesus Christ. Jesus gathers the lost, restores the broken, and reveals God’s light

not only to Israel but to the whole world. Like the Servant, we too are known by God, formed

with purpose, and sent on a mission. Sometimes we feel our efforts are small or unnoticed,

but God reminds us that even quiet faithfulness can carry His light far beyond what we

imagine. This passage invites us to reflect: Where is God sending me to be light? In my

family, parish, workplace, or society, God calls me not only to belong to Him, but to reflect

His love outward. When we live with compassion, justice, and hope, we participate in God’s

saving work for the world.

The second reading taken from the First Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians though short is

very rich in meaning. Paul begins by introducing himself as “called to be an apostle of Christ

Jesus by the will of God.” This reminds the community that Paul’s authority does not come

from his own ambition or talent, but from God’s call. He addresses the letter to “the Church

of God that is in Corinth. Corinth was a busy, wealthy, and morally complex city, filled with

different cultures, religions, and values. The Christian community there struggled with

divisions, pride, and confusion. Yet Paul calls them “sanctified in Christ Jesus” and “called to

be holy.” Before correcting their problems later in the letter, Paul first reminds them of their

dignity. Holiness is not something they achieve by perfection; it is a gift given through their

belonging to Christ. Paul then extends a greeting: “Grace to you and peace from God our

Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” “Grace” speaks of God’s free and undeserved love, while

“peace” refers to wholeness, harmony, and right relationship with God and one another. Paul

places God the Father and Jesus Christ together, showing the deep unity at the heart of

Christian faith. These verses invite us to remember who we are and whose we are. Like the

Corinthians, we live in a busy and often confusing world. We may feel unworthy or divided.

Yet God calls us holy, not because we are perfect, but because we belong to Him. Each day,

we are invited to live out this calling, receiving God’s grace and becoming instruments of His

peace in our homes, parishes, and communities.

In the 2023 movie The Pope's Exorcist, during an intense exorcism session with the

possessed boy Henry, Father Gabriele Amorth played by Russell Crowe demands the demon

reveal its name and purpose. The demon taunts him, saying, "I know your soul and every

shameless sin." Fr Amorth asks him” tell me one of my sins” and the demon remains silent.

Fr. Amorth replies calmly and confidently, “You cannot because my sins have been absorbed

by the one true master the Lord Jesus Christ.” That scene captures exactly what John the

Baptist proclaims today: our sins no longer define us, because the Lamb of God has taken

them away. For the people of Israel, the image of a lamb was very powerful. Lambs were

offered in sacrifice as a sign of forgiveness and new beginnings. By calling Jesus the Lamb of

God, John is saying that Jesus will offer his life so that sin will no longer have the final word.

John also reminds the crowd that Jesus is far greater than himself. Though John came first,

Jesus existed before him. John’s role is simply to point the way. He speaks of the Spirit

coming down like a dove and remaining on Jesus — a sign that Jesus is chosen and sent by

God. Jesus will not only wash people outwardly with water, but will transform hearts through

the Holy Spirit. This Gospel passage speaks directly to our own struggles. Many of us live

trapped in the past. We remember our failures, poor choices, broken relationships, and sins,

and we replay them again and again in our minds. Even after asking for forgiveness, we

sometimes find it hard to forgive ourselves. We allow guilt and shame to define us, as if our

mistakes are stronger than God’s mercy. But John points us to a different truth. Jesus does not

merely cover sin; he takes it away. He does not come to remind us of our past, but to free us

from it. As the Lamb of God, Jesus carries our burdens so that we can live in peace and hope.

His forgiveness is real, complete, and offered to the whole world. This passage invites us to

truly behold Jesus — to trust that his mercy is greater than our failures. Like John the Baptist,

we are called not to dwell on our past, but to point our lives toward Christ. When we accept

his forgiveness and learn to forgive ourselves, we become witnesses of his grace, bringing

healing and hope to others. This week, perhaps God is inviting us to let go of one sin or

failure we keep carrying, and trust that Jesus has already taken it away. May God bless us all.