2nd Sunday Ordinary Time

Fr. Mark Gatto

Preached: Jan. 15, 2023

Years ago I heard a story about a young woman who was preparing to become Catholic. She was so excited about all that she was learning about Jesus. One day she turned to the priest and excitedly asked him, “what do you still want to learn about Jesus?”

What do you still want to learn about Jesus?

John the Baptist sees Jesus coming to him in the gospel today. People do not yet know anything much about Jesus. John uses images to describe him, “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world,” something we sing each Mass before Holy Communion. John then speaks of how at his baptism, the Spirit descended upon Jesus like a dove and the Father says that he is “the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.” Finally, John calls Jesus “the Son of God.”

How do you and I come to know Jesus more deeply?

In each Sacrament it is possible to encounter Jesus. especially in the Eucharist in which we experience the presence of Jesus in the Presider, in the Assembly of the People of God gathered together as the body of Christ, in the Word proclaimed and especially in the real presence of Christ in the bread and wine consecrated that becomes for us the body and blood of Christ.

Also, we come to know Jesus more deeply in the people we encounter each day. Especially in the poor, the sick, the children, the lonely, for Jesus says that whatever we do to the least of our brothers and sisters, we do to him.

Of course, a special place in which we can come to know Jesus more deeply is in the Scriptures, especially in the Gospels. We should read and pray with the Gospels, watching and listening to Jesus. Each time we read or listen to the Gospels it is possible to learn about Jesus.

We are now beginning the Ordinary time in the church’s year. Each Sunday we have Gospel readings in which we have the opportunity to learn more about Jesus. Our Lectionary has a three year cycle.  Each year focus on a different Gospel, Matthew, Mark or Luke.

This year is Year A and the focus is the Gospel of Matthew. These Gospels give us an opportunity to learn more about Jesus. One recommendation is that you may want to take out your Bible and plan to read the Gospel of Matthew as you prepare to hear the Sunday Gospels this year.

By the way, when that woman asked the priest what he still wanted to learn about Jesus, what do you think he answered? He said, “I want to learn what is in the heart of Jesus.” As you read or listen to the Gospels, look for what is in the heart of Jesus.

Well, what do you still want to learn about Jesus?