Newsletter Second Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A) 18th January 2026

Newsletter 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A) 14th January 2026.pdf

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Gospel Reflection:

St John the Baptist when he saw Jesus said: “Look, there is the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.”  Just as the Jewish priests offered the sacrifice of a lamb to take away the sins of the Jews, Jesus is the ‘New Lamb’ of sacrifice that takes away “the sins of the world.”  In the Old Testament, especially the Book of Leviticus, God gave specific instructions for a Lamb Sacrifice to be valid.  Jesus fulfilled all these instructions.  God said the Lamb chosen for the sacrifice:  Had to be male.  Jesus is male.  The Lamb had to be first born.  Jesus was an only child.  The Lamb had to be without blemish.  Jesus was without sin.  The Lamb had to be drained of all blood.  Jesus emptied every drop of His Blood on the Cross.  The Lamb had to be eaten.  Jesus is eaten – in Holy Communion.  Therefore, Jesus fulfills all conditions for a valid sacrifice according to Old Testament scripture.  It is significant to note that the Jews would sacrifice a lamb twice every day of the year.  At 9am and 3pm.  Christ died at 3pm on Good Friday.  That was the exact moment of the annual Passover sacrifice when the Lambs were sacrificed in cruciform.  The lamb’s front legs were stretched out like Christ’s arms on the crucifix (and roasted).  On Good Friday at 3pm, Christ was attached to a cross.  At exactly that moment, the Passover Lamb was attached to a cross.  The Prophet Isaiah (800BC) wrote that the Messiah will be like a lamb that will be slaughtered.   “He was treated harshly but He endured it humbly…like a lamb about to be slaughtered…He never said a word; He was arrested and sentenced and led off to die…He was put to death for the sins of our people.” (53:7-8).  In the Book of Revelations St John, the Apostle, is given a vision of the Messiah: as a lamb slain by a sword.  And St John sees the angels and saints in heaven praising the lamb with the words: “You were killed and by Your sacrificial death You bought for God a people from every tribe, language, nation and race.  You have made them a Kingdom of Priests to serve our God…the lamb that was killed is worthy to receive honour, glory and praise.” (Rev 5:1-12).  In 1829 in Knock, Ireland, in an approved apparition, Jesus appeared as a lamb to about 25 people.  The lamb was on the altar. Our Lord was saying that what is needed is devotion to the Eucharist.  It is a call to receive Holy Communion and to spend time in Eucharistic Adoration.  The symbol of the lamb represents the sacrificial presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament (because Jesus is the new lamb of sacrifice). Through Our Lord’s perfect sacrifice on the Cross, we have the gift of the Holy Eucharist.  The perfect fruit of a perfect sacrifice.  St Augustine says of the Eucharist: “Although God is all powerful, He is unable to give more (than what He gives in the Eucharist). Though vastly rich, He has no more to give.” In this parish Jesus waits for us, all day and all night in our Perpetual Adoration Church calling us back sometime during the week to spend some quiet time with Him in order to deepen our intimacy and our union with Him. The Pope, St John Paul II urges lay people to “redouble efforts to teach the younger generation the meaning and value of Eucharistic Adoration. How will young people be able to know the Lord if they don’t spend time in His Real Presence?”  When Jesus healed ten lepers, only one came back to give Him thanks for the miracle of a clean body. Jesus said: "Were not all ten made whole. Where are the other nine?” (Luke 17:17) Every Sunday at Mass Jesus performs a far greater miracle for us.  In spite of the fact that Jesus asks us to give thanks for this great gift by coming back during the week and visiting Him in the Blessed Sacrament, only a very few do. Your sacrifice of spending an hour with Him will make up for the ingratitude of the "other nine", for the many who never think of visiting Him at all.  On the Cross, Jesus was lifted up in hatred. Those who are willing to make a sacrifice by keeping Him company, especially in the middle of the night lift Him up in love. Those willing to make this sacrifice draw down upon the whole human race all of the graces that He won for us on Calvary. This is why Mother Teresa of Calcutta says that “Perpetual adoration needs a great push in parishes because this is what will save the world."   St Peter Julian Eymard said the same thing when he stated: "Today perpetual adoration with exposition of the Blessed Sacrament is the grace and need of our time.  Society will be restored and renewed when all its members group themselves around our Emmanuel."  As St Paul said to Timothy in his first letter to Timothy 6-7: "Stir into flame the gift God has be-stowed upon you. The spirit God has given us is no cowardly spirit but rather, one that makes us strong." Who will answer the appeal of Christ who calls out in the middle of the night: "Could you not watch one hour with Me?" (Matthew 26:40).  Scripture reminds us that Jesus Himself frequently spent the whole night in prayer.  Those who are willing to come out and meet Jesus in the middle of the night are the very ones who will bring about the New Day for all mankind, when there will be no more night, in fulfilment of the promise of Jesus to establish His Kingdom throughout the world.