The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invoke the images of children and a lamb to initiate our contemplation of the Way we are invited to be witnesses like the Baptist to Jesus presence in our world.
The Reading from the First Letter of John exhorts us to be Children of God Avoiding Sin.
* [3:1–3] The greatest sign of God’s love is the gift of his Son (Jn 3:16) that has made Christians true children of God. This relationship is a present reality and also part of the life to come; true knowledge of God will ultimately be gained, and Christians prepare themselves now by virtuous lives in imitation of the Son.
* [3:2] When it is revealed: or “when he is revealed” (the subject of the verb could be Christ).
* [3:4] Lawlessness: a reference to the activity of the antichrist, so it is expressed as hostility toward God and a rejection of Christ. The author goes on to contrast the states of sin and righteousness. Christians do not escape sin but realize that when they sin they cease to have fellowship with God. Virtue and sin distinguish the children of God from the children of the devil. (1 John, CHAPTER 3 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 98 proclaims that all nations are summoned to welcome God’s coming to rule over the world.
* [Psalm 98] A hymn, similar to Ps 96, extolling God for Israel’s victory (Ps 98:1–3). All nations (Ps 98:4–6) and even inanimate nature (Ps 98:7–8) are summoned to welcome God’s coming to rule over the world (Ps 98:9). (Psalms, PSALM 98 | USCCB, n.d.)
The Gospel of John proclaims John the Baptist’s Testimony to Jesus.
* [1:29] The Lamb of God: the background for this title may be the victorious apocalyptic lamb who would destroy evil in the world (Rev 5–7; 17:14); the paschal lamb, whose blood saved Israel (Ex 12); and/or the suffering servant led like a lamb to the slaughter as a sin-offering (Is 53:7, 10).
* [1:30] He existed before me: possibly as Elijah (to come, Jn 1:27); for the evangelist and his audience, Jesus’ preexistence would be implied (see note on Jn 1:1).
* [1:31] I did not know him: this gospel shows no knowledge of the tradition (Lk 1) about the kinship of Jesus and John the Baptist. The reason why I came baptizing with water: in this gospel, John’s baptism is not connected with forgiveness of sins; its purpose is revelatory, that Jesus may be made known to Israel.
* [1:32] Like a dove: a symbol of the new creation (Gn 8:8) or the community of Israel (Hos 11:11). Remain: the first use of a favorite verb in John, emphasizing the permanency of the relationship between Father and Son (as here) and between the Son and the Christian. Jesus is the permanent bearer of the Spirit.
* [1:34] The Son of God: this reading is supported by good Greek manuscripts, including the Chester Beatty and Bodmer Papyri and the Vatican Codex, but is suspect because it harmonizes this passage with the synoptic version: “This is my beloved Son” (Mt 3:17; Mk 1:11; Lk 3:22). The poorly attested alternate reading, “God’s chosen One,” is probably a reference to the Servant of Yahweh (Is 42:1). (John, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB, n.d.)
Vivian Amu comments that Jesus, Emmanuel, the Christ, comes near, not only in the manger, but in the face of a stranger, the kindness of a neighbor, in the beauty of creation, the quiet whispers of hope in our hearts. Yet, like John, we may not truly see him, recognize him, or know him.
As we step into the first days of a new year, perhaps our invitation is to look for Christ in the moments we might too easily overlook—an unspoken forgiveness, a sunrise breaking through clouds, laughter in unexpected places. The Christ we celebrate is here, and if we open ourselves to the spirit, we might say with wonder: “I did not know him…but now I do.” Let Him shape not only who we are, but also, how we live in our beautiful, holy identity as children of God.
God whose presence is love, help us see you, recognize you, and know you, throughout this new year. (Amu, 2026)
Don Schwager quotes “John points to Jesus' saving mission,” by Cyril of Alexandria (376-444 AD)
"No longer does John need to 'prepare the way,' since the one for whom the preparation was being made is right there before his eyes... But now he who of old was dimly pictured, the very Lamb, the spotless Sacrifice, is led to the slaughter for all, that he might drive away the sin of the world, that he might overturn the destroyer of the earth, that dying for all he might annihilate death, that he might undo the curse that is upon us... For one Lamb died for all (2 Corinthians 5:14), saving the whole flock on earth to God the Father, one for all, that he might subject all to God." (excerpt from the COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 2.1) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on 1 John 2:29–3:6 comments that this hope of seeing God, this promise of being with him forever, can fill our hearts with a deep yearning for heaven. It can move us to put away any sin that is clouding our vision of him so that we can live more fully for the Lord here and now.
Of course, any experience of the Lord that we have here, even the most powerful, is only a taste of the glory that awaits us. Even the gift of the Holy Spirit is the “first installment” of what we are promised as children of God (Ephesians 1:14).
So keep your eyes fixed on your Father in heaven, and every step you take on earth will bring you closer to him.
“Lord, I can’t wait to see you!” (Meditation on 1 John 2:29–3:6, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments that 1 John contains the dualistic idea that one is for God or for the world, understood as those who live in sin and darkness. We are urged, in 1 John, to make ourselves pure as God is pure, citing Leviticus. John the Baptist proclaims Jesus as the “Lamb of God” using his language of Aramaic in which the word for lamb is the same as servant. The Gospel recalls that the death of the suffering servant is for our sins. John gives witness to Jesus the one who is Baptised by the Spirit. The dove in the Hebrew Testament is a symbol of Love. The Spirit is the Love between the Father and the Son. John the Baptist proclaims that the Spirit descended upon Jesus. Friar Jude notes that in John’s Gospel the phrase “son of God “ is refined from the Hebrew Testament concept of “a good person” to be the only begotten Son of God, a person of the Trinity.
Father Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Buddhist teacher Kaira Jewel Lingo who offers a guided meditation that grounds us more deeply in what it means to be salt and light. This 5-minute guided meditation is led by mindfulness teacher and author Kaira Jewel Lingo, who spent fifteen years living as a nun under the guidance of Thich Nhat Hanh. Her work is regularly featured in Richard Rohr’s Daily Meditations.
Being Salt and Light: A Guided Meditation
(Rohr, 2026)
We contemplate our prayerful instruction to “Behold the Lamb of God” and seek guidance to act as disciples that respond to our mission to transform the “face of the earth”
References
Amu, V. (2026, January 2). Daily Reflection January 3, 2026 | Creighton Online Ministries. Creighton Online Ministries. Retrieved January 3, 2026, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-january-3-2026
John, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved January 3, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/1?29
Meditation on 1 John 2:29–3:6. (n.d.). Word Among Us. Retrieved January 3, 2025, from https://wau.org/meditations/2026/01/03/1464433/
1 John, CHAPTER 3 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved January 3, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1john/3
Psalms, PSALM 98 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved January 3, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/98?1
Rohr, R. (2026, January 3). Being Salt and Light: Weekly Summary. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved January 3, 2026, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/summary-being-salt-and-light-weekly-summary/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Behold the Lamb of God! Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved January 3, 2026, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/
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