Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
JN 1:29-34
January 19, 2020

Among the very first songs that Catholic school children learned prior to Vatican II was the Agnus Dei.

Agnus Dei
Qui tolis peccata mundi
Miserere nobis.

Agnus Dei
Qui tolis peccata mundi
Dona nobis pacem.

Introduced into the celebration of the Mass by the Pope in the seventh century, whether sung or recited, this ancient prayer inspired by today’s Gospel (John 1:29-34) is a signal to the faithful that we are about to receive The Eucharist.

But looking back to the time before we proclaimed this statement expressing our belief in salvation through Jesus Christ IN ENGLISH, one can’t help but wonder if we understood what we were saying. Certainly, praying in Latin posed an obstacle to some. But even today, as we pray the Agnus Dei around the world in our native tongues, do we really understand what we are saying?

In 1983, American faith-based singer/songwriter Michael Card released a song inspired by Genesis 22: “Abraham’s sacrifice.” The hauntingly beautiful melody adds to the intense drama of the story. An elderly man struggles to the top of a mountain followed by his much loved and only son. Abraham’s faith is put to the test. He has been asked to sacrifice Isaac. At the last moment, an angel holds back Abraham’s hand. The name of the song which brings Genesis 22 to life is: GOD WILL PROVIDE A LAMB.

Three days’ journey to the sacred place
A boy and a man with a sorrowful face
Tortured, yet faithful to God’s command
To take the life of his son
With his own hands

God will provide a lamb
To be offered up in your place
A sacrifice so spotless and clean
To take all your sin away!

And so, our all-merciful God did provide a lamb…Agnus Dei! The Lamb of God Who has taken away the sins of the world.

If we really did understand just exactly what it is that we have been singing for over 1,400 years, we would be overwhelmed with gratitude. Grateful hearts look for ways to repay valuable gifts. No gift is more valuable than salvation. So how can we hope to repay God for the gracious gift of salvation? We can strive to be like Abraham and withhold nothing from our God. And on those occasions when we fall short…and most of us will fall way short…we can still feel peace…knowing that God has provided THE LAMB…WHO HAS taken away the sins of the world.

That’s what John saw that day when Jesus walked past him… Agnus Dei!