Readings: Is 49,3.5-6 / Ps 39 / 1 Cor 1.1 to 3 / Jn 1.29 to 34
HERE!
Before handing over to the Evangelist Matthew and the word - the gospel that browsed on from next Sunday - the liturgy offers us a final encounter with John the Baptist, the great prophet who has guided us in Advent journey. The gospel for this Sunday is all about to cry that he pronounced 'saw Jesus coming toward him "(Jn 1:29). These words, which repeat in the heart of every celebration of the Eucharist, may accompany our entry into the new liturgical year, giving us a simple and profound look at the reality of Christ: "Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" (1.29).
See
"Here! You do not seem trivial by the Baptist exclaimed the first word, this tiny adverb we use so often in everyday life. In greek its etymology is related to the verb "see." This is not just a way to attract any attention to what you are going to say, but almost an imperative that is born of wonder and invites participation. "Look, you see," repeated Giovanni Battista each of us this Sunday! The long time spent in the wilderness, where John was dedicated Listening to a deep and persistent use of the Scriptures, he forged his heart until it is fully sensitive to the passage in the fourth gospel of God to enter the scene of Jesus is very discreet. After the solemn prologue - where everything is said but nothing is told - no one notices that the "glory" (Is 49.3) of God dwells in the humanity of Jesus to "sign" (Jn 2:11) in Cana, where obedience to the word of Jesus brings back joy and wine at the wedding feast. Jesus enters the world and looks like an ordinary person, that true man born of Mary, so we lifted the cup of joy on Christmas Day. The Baptist is the first man to contemplate in him the presence of the "Holy Spirit" (1:33) and to confess, "Son of God" (1.34). His caring imperative could then turn into a question: "Look! (I) see? ". The presence of God in history is indeed mild, discreet. Only the eyes that await the capture. Only the heart that want to recognize it. The Lord Jesus is never imposed our eyes, but continuously aims and approaches. He does mingling with the flock of men, not just proclaim "good shepherd" (10:14), but could be tender as lamb, first as a "servant" (Is 49.3) of the Lord, "Meek and humble of heart" (Mt 11:29).
Remove
But why - we might ask - is necessary throughout this gentleness in a world ever more clearly in need of a salvation and a Saviour ? Because his is an extraordinarily delicate mission. John says that he who takes away the sin of the world. " The Italian translation captures the similarity with the most famous Latin formula - "Agnus Dei here Tollis peccata mundi ..." - not the substance of the verb greek ( airein , 'lift', 'take'). The task of the lamb is not so much to take away sin, but to take it upon himself to lift with his power to prevent the world succumbs to his unbearable burden. Remove is often an illusion with which we relate to evil and suffering, naively believe that there is the possibility of removing the dross of life, perhaps working a bit 'about ourselves and about our capacity for acceptance. Lift and take of love are verbs, the gestures of one who does not ask more 'why' and 'wherefores', but acts as a heart capable of pity and thus to share. Acts of God, in fact.
Sanctify
We are willing to accept us as we are only up to a certain extent. Remains a residual uncomfortable and smelly, dark segment of our existence with which we are in eternal conflict. It is our sin, our distance from the truth, the good, the good that God has sown in our land and, unfortunately, still does not bear fruit. Indeed, it exhibits rotten fruit, which we ourselves are the first to discard. The Gospel announces, assures us that there is someone who is willing to bundle this bad get it. Someone who is willing to lift us from the intolerable weight on his shoulders and also put the shame that we carry. One who is not on our side on alternate days, but always, because the Spirit - Love - and determine its principle of action. John testifies forcefully: "I covered the Spirit descending like a dove from heaven and remain upon him" (Jn 1:32). From the fact that the Lamb of God takes seriously and concretely our life comes an amazing result: while he becomes like / with us, we too become like / with him. Christian theology calls this process 'sanctification'. The apostle Paul, with boldness and exuberance, had been realized by defining the members of the "Church of God" as "those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, together with all" (1 Cor 1:2). Holiness is in fact not a path free from mistakes and failures, but in the willingness to receive a daily guide and the company of someone who can really bring all the "sin of the world," because he created this world and so loves Jesus Christ, the Son of God
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