Theme of the Sunday: The Vocation of the Christian. In the second reading Paul tells us that every Christian is “called” and has a vocation. The gospel tells us that our vocation continues the vocation of Jesus, whom the Baptist calls the “Lamb of God,” that is, the one who sacrifices himself so that others may have life. The first reading shows how in the Old Testament God chose for his mission of salvation a servant who sought neither glory nor power.
FIRST READING
“I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth. ”
A reading from the Book of Isaiah (Isaiah 49:3.5-6)
The LORD said to me, “You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified.” And now the Lord says, who formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him, and that Israel might be gathered to him, for I am honoured in the eyes of the Lord, and my God has become my strength — he says: “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the preserved of Israel; I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”
The word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Ps 40:2 and 4ab.7-8a. 8b-9. 10 (R. 8a and 9a)
R/. See, I have come, Lord, to do your will.
I waited, I waited for the Lord,
and he stooped down to me;
he heard my cry.
He put a new song into my mouth,
praise of our God. R/.
You delight not in sacrifice and offerings,
but in an open ear.
You do not ask for holocaust and victim.
Then I said, “See, I have come.” R/.
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.” R/.
Your justice I have proclaimed
in the great assembly.
My lips I have not sealed;
you know it, O Lord. R/.
SECOND READING
“Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
The beginning of the first Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 1 : 1 -3)
Paul, called by the will of Plod to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes, to the Church of God which is at Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
The word of the Lord.
ALLELUIA John 1:14a.12ac
Alleluia. The word became flesh and dwelt among us. To all who received him he gave power to become children of God. Alleluia.
GOSPEL
“Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. ”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John (John 1:29-34)
At that time: John saw Jesus coming towards him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, for he was before me.’ I myself did not know him; but for this I came baptising with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.” And John bore witness, “I saw the Spirit descend as a dove from heaven and remain on him. I myself did not know him; but he who sent me to baptise with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptises with the Holy Spirit.’ And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.”
The Gospel of the Lord