2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, year A

Isaiah 49: 3. 5-6 

The LORD said to me: You are my servant, Israel, through whom I show my glory. Now the LORD has spoken who formed me as his servant from the womb, that Jacob may be brought back to him and Israel gathered to him; and I am made glorious in the sight of the LORD, and my God is now my strength! It is too little, the LORD says, for you to be my servant, to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and restore the survivors of Israel; I will make you a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.

Psalm 40: 2. 4. 7-10

I have waited, waited for the LORD,

and he stooped toward me and heard my cry.

And he put a new song into my mouth,

a hymn to our God.

Sacrifice or offering you wished not,

but ears open to obedience you gave me.

Holocausts or sin-offerings you sought not;

then said I, “Behold I come.”

“In the written scroll it is prescribed for me,

to do your will, O my God, is my delight,

and your law is within my heart!”

I announced your justice in the vast assembly;

I did not restrain my lips, as you, O LORD, know.

1 Corinthians 1: 1-3

Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, to the church of God that is in Corinth, to you who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be holy, with all those everywhere who call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

John 1: 29-34

John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. He is the one of whom I said, ‘A man is coming after me who ranks ahead of me because he existed before me.’ I did not know him, but the reason why I came baptizing with water was that he might be made known to Israel.” John testified further, saying, “I saw the Spirit come down like a dove from heaven and remain upon him. I did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘On whomever you see the Spirit come down and remain, he is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ Now I have seen and testified that he is the Son of God.”

Questions:

- It is written in the book of Isaiah: “The LORD said to me: You are my servant, Israel, through whom I show my glory. Now the LORD has spoken who formed me as his servant from the womb...” – Do I believe that God works in my life too? How and when do I notice that God is acting in my life? How and when do I notice that I prevent or hinder God from working through me? What can I do to make my life more in harmony with God's actions?

- It is written in the First Letter to the Corinthians: “Paul (…) and Sosthenes our brother (…) to you who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be holy, with all those everywhere who call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours.” – What does it mean to me that God calls us to be holy? Is holiness an attribute limited to a chosen few? Or is it really possible for all of us? How in practice should we live and act, in order to answer this call?

- It is written in the Gospel: “John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.”” – Why does John the Baptist call Jesus the Lamb of God and say he "takes away the sin of the world”? What could be the source of these expressions in the Old Testament? (see especially Isaiah 53; you can also suggest other sources or similarities). What does this proclamation by John mean?

Questions for children:

- It is written in the book of Isaiah: “The LORD said to me: You are my servant, Israel, through whom I show my glory. Now the LORD has spoken who formed me as his servant from the womb...” – Everyone loves and wants to succeed in life. God who loves us wants us to succeed in our lives, to live according to His will, and he works in us to help us. How and when do I feel that God works in me? How can I see God at work in others? When do I think others can see God’s action in my daily life? And what should I do so He will work within me more and more?

- It is written in the First Letter to the Corinthians: “Paul (…) and Sosthenes our brother (…) to you who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be holy, with all those everywhere who call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours.” – What does it mean to me that there are those who call on the name of Jesus everywhere? Do I feel united with believers in Jesus all over the world? Do I know anything about the customs, traditions, and also the suffering of Christians in different countries of the world?

- It is written in the Gospel: “John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.”” – Why does John the Baptist call Jesus the Lamb of God and say he "takes away the sin of the world”? What could be the source of these expressions in the Old Testament? (see especially Isaiah 53; you can also suggest other sources or similarities). What does this proclamation by John mean?