Scripture Reflection - January 18, 2026

Second Sunday of Ordinary Time

First Reading: Isaiah 49:3, 5-6 

Psalms: Psalm 40:2, 4, 7-8, 8-9, 10

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:1-3

Gospel: John 1:29-34

Recognizing and Responding to God’s Call

Each reading brings us to listening, seeing, and responding with faithfulness to what we are being called to do.

In the first reading, like Isiah, each of us is invited to be shaped by God’s calling. God doesn’t call only the perfect or the ready; God calls the willing. That calling often stretches us beyond our comfort—just as the Servant’s mission was considered “too light a thing” to be limited only to Israel.

The Responsorial Psalm echoes this attitude of openness, “I have come to do Your will”.  We come before the Lord with hearts ready to obey. This means listening for God’s voice and moving toward action—not just words. The psalm encourages us to trust that God hears us and equips us as we step forward in faith.

St. Paul’s greeting to the Corinthians emphasizes that all believers are “sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints.”  This is an invitation to holiness rooted in everyday life. God’s call isn’t merely for extraordinary moments, but for faithful living in daily relationships, work, and prayer.

In the Gospel of John, John the Baptist sees Jesus and declares:

“Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” 

In this moment, everything becomes clear. John recognizes Jesus not just as a teacher or prophet, but as Savior—the one upon whom the Spirit rests. John didn’t fully understand who Jesus was at first; he had to see the Spirit descend and remain upon Him. This tells us something important: faith grows through encounter and witness, not just by being told that something has happened.

When we open our hearts to the Spirit, we can see Jesus more clearly and testify to that truth in our lives.

Maureen Zeiss, Associate