BEING THE LAMB FOR THE WORLD

HOMILY FOR THE SECOND SUNDAY OF THE ORDINARY TIME, YEAR A

Rev. Fr. Ezekoka Peter Onyekachi

In times past, before the advent of Christianity, our forefathers had their various ways of worshipping God. One of these ways lies in their understanding of sacrifice. They sacrificed many kinds of animals to the gods, as they expect these gods to be appeased by those sacrifices. There were specific animals that were always demanded for the sacrifice, the chief of whom is the white fowl. They even went to the extent of sacrificing fellow humans based on their understanding of the demands of the gods. I say this because the concept of sacrifice is one that cuts across every religion. If we believe in God, then we must sacrifice for the sake of the person we believe in. The Jews had their own notion and practice of sacrifice. There are also specific animals that they favour, the most prominent and most used of whom is the lamb. So, the lamb for the Jews is the animal for sacrificial. That is how the phrase “the sacrificial lamb” gained prominence. Jesus is addressed as the lamb today by John the Baptist who dethroned himself in order to enthrone Christ. The mission/vocation of John is one that would have to point the Messiah whose coming is redemptive.

John the Baptist in the Gospel (John 1:29-34) saw Jesus coming towards him and he said: behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. These words form the cornerstone of my reflection today. What does it mean that Jesus is the Lamb? How can Christians be like Jesus in the Lamb identity?

Jesus as the Lamb...

The usage of lamb for Jesus was one that would gain easy understanding for the Jews because of their knowledge of lambs in their religious practices. The Jews had a double-fold celebration that makes this understanding more vivid. One is their historical commemoration of the event of the Passover. Two is their daily practice of sacrifice at the temple in Jerusalem every morning and evening. Lamb was well known, then and its usage had a message it tries to pass on to the people about Jesus.

The Passover feast reminds the Jews of the Passover Lamb that was slain and sprinkled on the door of the Israelites. In Exodus 12:11-13, on that night when the angel of darkness walked abroad and slew the first-born of the Egyptians, the Israelites were to smear their doorposts with the blood of the slain lamb, and the angel, seeing it would pass over that house. The blood of the lamb delivered them from that destruction. With this background, John the Baptist points Christ as the Lamb that stands as the deliverer of his people. Little wonder Christ is seen by Paul as the Passover Lamb (1 Cor. 5:7). Christ is the Lamb that delivers us from the power of the enemy, the devil. He is our protector.

The daily ritual of the temple and its sacrifices was a known practice. Every morning and every evening, a lamb was sacrificed in the temple for the sins of the people. This is in keeping with the tradition of Exodus 29:38-42. So long as there is the temple, this practice was made. So, seeing Jesus as the lamb also meant that he is sacrificed for the remission of the sins of the people. If in the temple, a lamb is offered for the sins of the people, then in Jesus is the only sacrifice which can deliver people from sin. The Lamb takes away the sins of the world. The idea of sacrifice may be weird for our generation, but if we can think about the idea of bail or restitution, the knowledge of what Christ as the Lamb stands for becomes clearer. When a criminal commits an offence and is imprisoned, he/she has grown incapacitated to free him/herself. He needs another who comes to bail whose coming is restitutive in nature; to make compensation for the injury the criminal has done against humanity. We were in prison out of our sins and carelessness. We need someone to bail us. He is the Christ, the Lamb of God. Christ’s bailing is so conclusive because with his bail, no one can convict us again. No manner of sinning can supersede his sacrificial bail, and the restitution He has made with His life. In John 19:31, Jesus dies the same day the lambs were been killed in the Temple. This is to show us that the writer has in mind of unequivocally proving that Jesus’ offering replaces and completes once and for all any offering and sacrifice that has been made and that will ever be made for the remission of sins.

Indeed, the prophets capture it well. Christ is like a lamb led to the slaughter house (cf. Jer. 11:19; Is. 53:7). These prophets had it clear in their minds of one whom by his sufferings and his sacrifice, meekly and lovingly borne, would redeem his people. St. Peter is so clear about Jesus as the spotless and umblemished lamb who ransomed men from sin (1 Pet. 1:18-19). The book of Revelation favours many times (about 29times) the use of the Lamb of God with reference to Christ. In Rev. 5:5, Christ was known to be the lion of the tribe of Judah, who is ever victorious. However, the use of the title Lamb has a message it passes. The Lion became the Lamb that we may become lions. He dehumanized Himself that we may be divinized. He became so low that we may be raised. Having seen that Christ vocation as the Lamb was judiciously and meticulously carried out by Him, we must too carry out our vocations and missions in this life the way God wants.

Christian as lambs of the world...

Every Christian is called. That means we all have vocations. We are called to imitate Christ the lamb in conquering sin, delivering ourselves and others, sticking out our necks for the sake of humanity based on our love for God. Just as the blood of the Lamb became a symbol of protection for the Israelites in captivity, and the blood of Jesus as the power that crushed totally the intimidations and torments of the devil, so too, the Christian lifestyle must be one that serves to protect the interest of the minority, those persecuted, the sick, the downtrodden, the orphans, and the dejected and denigrated of the society. The Second Reading (1 Cor. 1:1-3) of today spells it out clearly that we are celled to be saints.

We all are called. Being called implies that we have vocations. Our vocation as Christians is to be the prolongation of Jesus who today is presented in the form of Lamb. In whatever business you engage in life, discover the call to become a lamb inherent in it. By so doing, you reap the fruits of your work well. We must stoop to conquer. Lambs are known for their innocence and meekness. We must be innocent of the failures of others, becoming promoters. Never participate in pulling people down or becoming a wolf where you are called to be lambs. Wolves are destructive, but lambs are innocent. In our meekness, we work together to puncture the society that gives us the impression that pride and intimidation cum aggressive spirit paves the way. Lambs conquer with their humility and not with pride and arrogance.

It is in becoming lambs that we can possess the spirit of servitude. We are the servants of the Lord. As servants, we belong to Him, and only do what he expects us to do. As servants, he sends us on errands and we return to him with the account of our stewardship. Yes, as the Psalmists says, we have come to do His will. In the First Reading (Is. 49:3.5.6), we are addressed as servants who are there to raise up the tribe of Jacob and to restore the preserved of Israel. Having served well, he makes us the light of the nations; those people can look up to. When you live your live with these characteristics as a lamb in all humility, you become a reference point for others. People will look up to you as mentors and as coaches. The Lord will place you on the Holy Mountain so that anyone who sees you will give glory to God. May this be your portion. Amen. Happy Sunday and have a blessed week ahead. God bless you.