SEGUNDO DOMINGO DEL TIEMPO ORDINARIO 2026

Mis queridos hermanos y hermanas un cordial saludo para todos ustedes deseándoles que la celebración de la Navidad haya traído muchas bendiciones a sus familias y hogares en este nuevo año. El domingo pasado celebramos el bautismo del Señor. Fiesta con la que terminamos el tiempo de Navidad y nos disponemos para comenzar el tiempo ordinario, en el que meditaremos sobre la vida pública de Jesús; sus acciones, enseñanzas y milagros. En este segundo domingo del tiempo ordinario Jesús es presentado por Juan el Bautista como el Cordero de Dios que quita el pecado del mundo. Esta imagen del cordero proviene de dos ideas en el antiguo Testamento. La primera es la del día de pascua cuando se sacrificaba el cordero Pascual que se comía en familia en la cena de Pascua, recordando así la liberación que Dios había realizado con su pueblo y la segunda es la del rito de perdón de los pecados cuando el sacerdote tomaba un macho cabrío que era cargado con los pecados del pueblo y luego enviado al desierto para expiar los pecados de todos los israelitas. La combinación de estas dos ideas nos ayuda a entender a Jesús como el cordero sacrificado por la salvación del mundo y como aquel que cargó con nuestros pecados para liberarnos de ellos.

Es interesante ver como en el evangelio de Juan, el Bautista muestra a Jesús como el cordero de Dios que quita el pecado del mundo. El mismo relato del evangelio nos dice que Jesús se acercaba hacia el Bautista. Esta imagen nos recuerda a un Dios que no es lejano sino que se acerca a la humanidad y a todos nosotros para salvarnos y estar a nuestro lado. Juan al ver a Jesús lo reconoce porque había recibido señales del que lo envió a predicar que aquel sobre el que se posara la paloma, es decir, el Espíritu Santo, era el hijo de Dios que venía a bautizar con la fuerza del mismo Espíritu Santo. Juan nos recuerda la importancia de reconocer a Jesús en su forma humana, como quien se acerca a nosotros. De ahí que sea necesario hoy reconocer el paso De Dios por nuestras vidas, especialmente cuando se nos presenta en los más pobres y necesitados, que se constituyen en los signos a través de los cuales podemos reconocer el paso de Dios por nuestras vidas. También nos recuerda este relato que Dios no está lejano a nosotros, que el se acerca y viene a nuestro encuentro.

La primera lectura tomada del libro del profeta Isaías presenta a Jesús como el siervo de Dios que ha venido a la tierra para ser luz de las naciones y llevar la salvación a todos. Por su parte el salmo nos recuerda que Jesús vino al mundo para hacer la voluntad de Dios. De igual manera cada uno de nosotros que ha sido bautizado en Cristo debe estar dispuesto a hacer la voluntad de Dios en su vida y trabajar por la paz, la justicia y el derecho en nuestro mundo.

Terminemos esta reflexión con estas preguntas: ¿En tu vida eres capaz de reconocer las señales de la presencia de Dios?

¿Eres capaz de reconocer a Dios en tus hermanos, especialmente en los más necesitados?

¿Llevas tu luz a las personas con las que te encuentras?

P. Luis Segura M.S.C.

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SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME 2026

 My dear brothers and sisters, a warm greeting to all of you, wishing you that the celebration of Christmas has brought many blessings to your families and homes in this new year. Last Sunday we celebrated the Baptism of the Lord. This feast marked the end of the Christmas season and prepared us to begin Ordinary Time, during which we will meditate on the public life of Jesus: his actions, teachings, and miracles. On this second Sunday of Ordinary Time, Jesus is presented by John the Baptist as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. This image of the lamb comes from two ideas in the Old Testament. The first is that of Passover, when the Paschal lamb was sacrificed and eaten by families at the Passover meal, thus recalling the liberation that God had accomplished for his people. The second is the rite of atonement for sins, when the priest would take a male goat, which was burdened with the sins of the people and then sent into the desert to atone for the sins of all the Israelites. The combination of these two ideas helps us to understand Jesus as the lamb sacrificed for the salvation of the world and as the one who bore our sins to free us from them.

It is interesting to see how, in the Gospel of John, John the Baptist presents Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. The Gospel account itself tells us that Jesus was approaching John the Baptist. This image reminds us of a God who is not distant but who draws near to humanity and to all of us to save us and be by our side. When John saw Jesus, he recognized him because he had received signs from the one who sent him to preach: that the one upon whom the dove, that is, the Holy Spirit, would descend, was the Son of God who was coming to baptize with the power of the Holy Spirit. John reminds us of the importance of recognizing Jesus in his human form, as one who approaches us. Therefore, it is necessary today to recognize God's presence in our lives, especially when He appears to us in the poorest and most needy, who become the signs through which we can recognize God's presence in our lives. This account also reminds us that God is not far from us, that He draws near and comes to meet us.

The first reading, taken from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah, presents Jesus as the servant of God who has come to earth to be a light to the nations and bring salvation to all. The psalm, in turn, reminds us that Jesus came into the world to do God's will. Similarly, each of us who has been baptized into Christ must be willing to do God's will in our lives and work for peace, justice, and righteousness in our world.

Let's conclude this reflection with these questions: In your life, are you able to recognize the signs of God's presence?

Are you able to recognize God in your brothers and sisters, especially in those most in need?

Do you bring your light to the people you encounter?

Fr. Luis Segura M.S.C.

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The Capacity to Give Way to Jesus…

The Gospel of today’s liturgy recounts John the Baptist’s testimony on Jesus, after having baptized him in the river Jordan. He says: “This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, for he was before me’” (v. 30).

This declaration, this witness, reveals John’s spirit of service. He was sent to prepare the way for the Messiah, and had done so without sparing himself. Humanly speaking, one would think that he would be given a “prize”, a prominent place in Jesus’ public life. But no. Having accomplished his mission, John knows how to step aside, he withdraws from the scene to make way for Jesus. He has seen the Spirit descend upon him (cf. vv. 33-34), he has indicated him as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, and now he in turn humbly listens. He goes from prophet to disciple. He preached to the people, gathered disciples and trained them for a long time. Yet he does not bind anyone to himself. And this is difficult, but it is the sign of the true educator: not binding people to oneself. John does this: he sets his disciples in Jesus’ footsteps. He is not interested in having a follow-ing for himself, in gaining prestige and success, but rather bears witness and then takes a step back, so that many would have the joy of meeting Jesus. We can say: he opens the door, then he leaves.

With this spirit of service, with his capacity to give way to Jesus, John the Baptist teaches us an important thing: freedom from attachments. Yes, because it is easy to become attached to roles and positions, to the need to be esteemed, recognized and rewarded. And this, although natural, is not a good thing, because service involves gratuitousness, taking care of others without benefit for oneself, without ulterior motives, without expecting something in return. It is good for us, too, to cultivate, like John, the virtue of setting ourselves aside at the right moment, bearing witness that the point of reference of life is Jesus. To step aside, to learn to take one’s leave: I have completed this mission, I will step aside and leave room for the Lord.

Let us think of how important this is for a priest, who is called to preach and celebrate, not out of self-importance or interest, but to accompany others to Jesus. Let us think of how important this is for parents, who raise their children with many sacrifices, but then have to leave them free to take their own path in work, in marriage, in life. It is good and right that parents continue to assure their presence, saying to their children, “We will not leave you by yourselves”, but with discretion, without intrusiveness. The freedom to grow. And the same applies to other spheres, such as friendships, life as a couple, community life. Freeing oneself from attachments to one’s own ego and knowing how to step aside come at a cost, but are very important. This is the decisive step in order to grow in the spirit of service, without looking for something in return.

Let us try to ask ourselves: are we capable of making space for others? Of listening to them, of leaving them free, of not binding them to ourselves, demanding recognition? Letting them speak, making space for others. Do we attract others to Jesus, or to ourselves? And furthermore, following John’s example: do we know how to rejoice in the fact that people take their own path and follow their calling, even if this entails some detachment from us? Do we rejoice in their achievements, with sincerity and without envy? This is letting others grow.

May Mary, the servant of the Lord, help us to be free from attachments, to make space for the Lord and to give space to others. Synthesized from Pope Francis, Angelus, 15 I 23

Fr. Rajesh

2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time 2026 A

My friends, today’s Gospel is according to Saint John the Evangelist and it’s about Saint John the Baptist.  Two Johns.  As mentioned last week, the Gospel for most of this Liturgical Year (Cycle A) is from the Gospel according to Matthew.  Last week’s Gospel was about the Baptism of Jesus, according to Matthew.

Today’s Gospel is also about the Baptism of Jesus but it is according to John the Evangelist.  This Gospel gives us a deeper understanding of the Baptism of Jesus.  It is important to note that John the Evangelist is the Apostle John, one of the 12 Apostles.  He was with Jesus for 3 years, from the time Jesus first called his Apostles up until Jesus’ death on the Cross.

John the Baptist says, “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.”

Twice in our Gospel, John said, “I did not know him.”  On the surface, that sounds strange because Jesus is John the Baptist’s cousin.  John the Baptist is the son of Mary’s cousin, Elizabeth and her husband, Zachariah. How could he not know Jesus ?  The answer is that John had an Epiphany.  At the Baptism of Jesus, when John saw the Spirit come down upon Jesus like a dove and he heard the voice of the Father, John knew that Jesus is the Son of God.

Regarding an Epiphany, Father Richard Rohr once wrote:  “You cannot make an Epiphany happen.  You cannot force it.  An Epiphany comes to you and you have no control of it.”  How about that ?  Perhaps it’s something someone said; something you have read; a look; a glance…  Something happens and there it is – an Epiphany, just like when John heard, “This is my beloved Son.”

One last thing about John, the author of today’s Gospel:

When the Apostle John was an old man in Ephesus, he was asked what was the most important teaching of Jesus.  John said, “Little children, love one another. That’s all there is.” 

Indeed, that’s all there is in life – to love one another…