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2^nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (常年期第二主日)

Gospel: John 1:29-34 （若1：29-34）

The next day he 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 the sky 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."

Preaching：God Who Calls

In today’s gospel, seeing Jesus coming towards him, John exclaims: “Behold the Lamb of God, behold him who takes away the sin of the world” (v. 29). Why does he define him with so singular an image? There was never a person in the Old Testament called “lamb of God.” The expression marks the culmination of his long and arduous spiritual journey. It started, in fact, from complete ignorance. “I did not know him,” he exclaims twice (vv. 31, 33).

Educated probably among the Essene monks of Qumran, John had assimilated the spirituality of his people. He knew the history and was familiar with the Scriptures. His allusion to the paschal lamb whose blood, placed on the doorposts of the houses in Egypt, had saved their forebears from the slaughter of the exterminating Angel foreshadows the fate of Jesus. One day he would be sacrificed like a lamb. John the Evangelist has certainly wanted to draw this same symbolism: It was, in fact, the hour in which, in the temple, the priest began to sacrifice the lambs.

There is a second reference to the Lamb of God in the book of Isaiah, and every Israelite knew it very well—the Servant of the Lord, also mentioned in today’s first reading. Here’s how the prophet describes his move towards death: “He was led like a lamb to the slaughter…he bore the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors” (Is 53:7, 12). John applies the imagery to Jesus.

The Baptist has in mind a third biblical call: the lamb is also associated with the sacrifice of Abraham. Isaac, while walking alongside his father to Mount Moriah, asks: “The fire and the wood are here, but where is the lamb for the sacrifice?” Abraham replies: “God himself will provide the lamb” (Gen 22:7-8).

“Behold the Lamb of God!” the Baptist now answers. It is Jesus, given by God to the world to be sacrificed instead of the sinful man deserving punishment. Like Isaac, he is the only son, the beloved, the one who brings the wood to the place of sacrifice. Jesus, like Isaac, also freely gave his life for love.

At this point, one wonders if indeed the Baptist had in mind all these biblical references when on two occasions, turning to Jesus, he declared: “Behold the Lamb of God” (Jn 1:29, 36). Perhaps not, but certainly, John the Evangelist had them in mind. He wanted to offer a catechesis to the Christians of his communities and to us.

In the second part of the passage (vv. 32-34), the testimony of John the Baptist is presented. He recognizes as “Son of God” the one on whom he saw the Spirit descended and remained. The reference is to the baptism scene narrated by the synoptic Gospels (Mk 1:9-11). John introduces, however, a significant detail: the Spirit is not just seen descending upon Jesus but remaining in him.

Through Jesus, the Spirit came into the world. No opposing force will drive or overcome him and from him, the Spirit will be poured out on each person. It is the baptism “in the Holy Spirit” announced by John the Baptist (v. 33).

It is this message of hope and joy that through the Baptist, John, from the very first page of his gospel, wants to announce to the disciples. Despite the apparent overwhelming power of evil in the world, what awaits humanity is the communion of life “with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.” These things—John says—I write “so that our joy may be complete” (1 Jn 1:3-4).

证道：若翰传递希望和喜乐，耶稣为罪人承担一切

在今日的福音中，我们看到耶稣走向若翰，若翰解释说：“请看，天主的羔羊，请看除免世罪者”。为何会用这样独一无二的图像来定义耶稣呢？在旧约中，从来没有哪个人被称为“天主的羔羊”。这种表达标志着耶稣那漫长和艰辛的精神旅程的高峰。事实上，这是从对耶稣的完全一无所知开始的。若翰解释了两次：“我不认识他”（若1：31，33）。

若翰可能受教于谷木兰团体，吸收了团体中的精神教导。他了解历史，与犹太人的圣经相似。他暗指逾越节羔羊的血，在埃及被涂抹于门框上，从毁灭天使的手中拯救了他们的祖先，并预示着耶稣的命运。总有一天，耶稣会像羔羊那样被牺牲。若望圣史无疑是想描绘同样的标记：事实上，正是司祭在圣殿中祭献羔羊的时刻。

在《依撒意亚先知书》中第二次提及天主的羔羊，并且每个以色列人都很清楚这是上主的仆人，也在今日弥撒的第一篇读经中提及。先知是这样描写上主的仆人走向死亡的：“他如同被牵去待宰的羔羊，他为了承担了大众的罪过，作罪犯的中保”（依53：7，12）。若翰把这个预像用在了耶稣身上。

洗者若翰心中还有第三个圣经中的回应：羔羊也使人联想到亚巴郎的祭献。那时候，依撒格在与父亲一起走向摩黎雅山的路上，问亚巴郎说：“看，这里有火有柴，但是哪里有作全燔祭的羔羊？”亚巴郎回答说：“天主自会照料作全燔祭的羔羊”（创22：7-8）。

洗者若翰现在回答说：“请看，天主的羔羊！”它就是耶稣，是天主赐予世界的，为代替罪人受罚而牺牲自己。耶稣就像依撒格，是唯一的爱子把木柴带到了祭献的地方。耶稣如同依撒格，也因爱而自由地献出自己的生命。

在这一点上，人们怀疑洗者若翰在两次转向耶稣时，是否真的想到了所有这些圣经中的引用，他宣称：“请看，天主的羔羊”（若1：29，36）。他或许没有想到，但是若望圣史的思考中肯定有。他想要为自己团体中的基督徒和今日的我们，提供一个要理的问答。

在这段落的后半部分中（若1：32-34），洗者若翰给出了自己的见证。他意识到自己看到圣神降临并停留在他身上的那一位就是“天主的儿子”。这里提及的是对观福音（玛窦、马尔谷、路加）中所叙述的耶稣受洗场景（谷1：9-11）。不过，若望介绍了一个意义重大的细节：就是看到圣神并不是仅仅降临在耶稣身上，还停留在他身上。

通过耶稣，圣神进入了世界。任何反对的势力都无法从耶稣身上驱逐或战胜祂，圣神将被倾注给每个人。这就是洗者若翰所宣告的“在神圣内”的洗礼。

这是若望从他的福音开篇中，想要向门徒们宣告、透过洗者若翰所传递的希望和喜乐的讯息。尽管世界上的邪恶势力势不可挡，但是等待人类的是“与圣父和祂的圣子耶稣基督”的共融生命。若望说，我写的这些事情，是为了“使我们的喜乐得以圆满”（若一1：3-4）。

文稿来源：雅颂福传