COLLECT: “O GOD, WHO FOUNDED THE SALVATION OF THE HUMAN RACE ON THE INCARNATION OF YOUR WORD, GIVE YOUR PEOPLE THE MERCY THEY IMPLORE, SO THAT ALL MAY KNOW THERE IS NO OTHER NAME TO BE INVOKED BUT THE NAME OF YOUR ONLY BEGOTTEN SON. WHO LIVES AND REIGNS WITH YOU IN THE UNITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, GOD, FOREVER AND EVER. AMEN”.
1Jn 2:29-3:6; Ps 2:7-8,10-11 and Jn 1:29-34.
Today, we honour the Name of Jesus, the name that was revealed to both Mary and Joseph before the child was born. At the Annunciation, the angel Gabriel told Mary to name her child Jesus. To Joseph, the Angel explained “he will save his people from their sins” (Mt 1:21). “There is, indeed, no salvation through anyone else, nor is there any other name under heaven given to the human race by which we are to be saved” (Acts 4:12).
Truly, Jesus is “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world”, declares John (Cf. Jn 1:29). Every morning and evening, an animal, preferably a lamb, was sacrificed in the Temple for the sins of the people of God (Cf. Exodus 29:38-42). Though these sacrifices were repeatedly made, the penalty for sin could not be completely wiped out. Rather, a life had to be given, and God chose to provide the sacrifice himself.
The Prophet Isaiah prophesied this, that ‘the Messiah, God’s servant, would be led to the slaughter like a lamb’ (Cf. Is 53:7). Jesus, the Messiah and the Servant of God, is the Lamb. He was led like a lamb as he carried his cross, and was sacrificed on the cross, to remove or to take away the sins of the world. The sins of the world were removed when Jesus died as the perfect sacrifice on the cross. St. Paul described Jesus dying on the cross as “Our Passover that has been sacrificed, that is Christ” (1Cor 5:7).
If Jesus’ death on the cross has truly paid the price for our sins, there should not be any sins anymore in the world. This, however, is not the case. We continue to commit sins daily. This is a human weakness and God is aware of that. However, out of deep love for us, though sinners: for “See what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called the children of God. Yet so we are” (1Jn 2:29ff), he found a remedy for us to take care of our sins we constantly commit daily.
Jesus continues to take away the sins of the world, the sins that we commit every day, through the Sacraments he instituted in the Church, especially the Sacraments of Reconciliation and the Anointing of the Sick. Also, every day, and especially every Sunday, Jesus takes away our sins through the Eucharist we celebrate and receive.
Like John, the Blessed Sacrament (The Holy Eucharist), which is Jesus’ real presence among us, is elevated and shown to everyone by the Priest with the words similar to those that John said: “Behold the Lamb of God, behold him who takes away the sins of the world. Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb”. The response which contains similar words that the centurion uttered when he came to Jesus to ask for healing for his servant: “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed”, convey the virtue of humility, which is very important if we want to be forgiven.
Let us pray for the virtue of humility so that every moment we approach the Lord, through the Sacraments we celebrate for mercy and forgiveness. Stay blessed and know that no sacrifice (of animals, fowls, birds, or whatever), apart from the sacrifice of the Lamb is the one that takes away our numerous sins we commit.
WE MEDITATE TODAY, SATURDAY, ON THE JOYFUL MYSTERIES: ‘THE ANNUNCIATION, THE VISITATION, THE BIRTH OF JESUS, THE PRESENTATION IN THE TEMPLE AND THE FINDING OF THE CHILD JESUS IN THE TEMPLE’. (LET US PRAY FOR HUMILITY, LOVE OF NEIGHBOUR, POVERTY IN SPIRIT, OBEDIENCE AND JOY IN FINDING JESUS) “Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you, blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus: Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us, sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen.
PRAYER: “MAY THE SACRIFICIAL GIFTS OFFERED TO YOUR MAJESTY, O LORD, TO HONOUR CHRIST’S NAME AND WHICH WE HAVE NOW RECEIVED, FILL US, WE PRAY, WITH YOUR ABUNDANT GRACE, SO THAT WE MAY COME TO REJOICE THAT OUR NAMES, TOO, ARE WRITTEN IN HEAVEN. THROUGH CHRIST OUR LORD. AMEN”.
Rev. Fr. Aloysius Kpiebaya, Catholic Diocese of Wa, UW/R, Ghana. (00233) 0207867239/0545462863. Email: aloybaya20@yahoo.com
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