The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to pray to discern the role to which we are being called today as we join the wider Christian Community to serve the Way of the Lord.
The Reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah presents The Servant of the Lord.
* [49:1–7] The second of the four “servant of the Lord” oracles (cf. note on 42:1–4).
* [49:1] Gave me my name: designated me for a special task or mission (cf. Jer 1:5).
* [49:3] Israel: the servant is identified with the people of Israel as their ideal representative; however, vv. 5–6 seem to distinguish the servant from Israel.
* [49:6] The servant’s vocation extends beyond the restoration of Israel in order to bring the knowledge of Israel’s God to the rest of the earth; cf. Lk 2:32. (Isaiah, CHAPTER 49 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 40 praises the open and enthusiastic proclamation of the salvation just experienced.
* [Psalm 40] A thanksgiving (Ps 40:2–13) has been combined with a lament (Ps 40:14–17) that appears also in Ps 70. The psalmist describes the rescue in spatial terms—being raised up from the swampy underworld to firm earth where one can praise God (Ps 40:2–4). All who trust God will experience like protection (Ps 40:5–6)! The Psalm stipulates the precise mode of thanksgiving: not animal sacrifice but open and enthusiastic proclamation of the salvation just experienced (Ps 40:7–11). A prayer for protection concludes (Ps 40:12–17).
* [40:4] A new song: a song in response to the new action of God (cf. Ps 33:3; 96:1; 144:9; 149:1; Is 42:10). Giving thanks is not purely a human response but is itself a divine gift.
* [40:7–9] Obedience is better than sacrifice (cf. 1 Sm 15:22; Is 1:10–20; Hos 6:6; Am 5:22–25; Mi 6:6–8; Acts 7:42–43 [quoting Am 5:25–26]). Heb 10:5–9 quotes the somewhat different Greek version and interprets it as Christ’s self-oblation. (Psalms, PSALM 40 | USCCB, n.d.)
The Reading from the First Letter to the Corinthians is from Paul’s Greeting.
* [1:1–9] Paul follows the conventional form for the opening of a Hellenistic letter (cf. Rom 1:1–7), but expands the opening with details carefully chosen to remind the readers of their situation and to suggest some of the issues the letter will discuss.
* [1:1] Called…by the will of God: Paul’s mission and the church’s existence are grounded in God’s initiative. God’s call, grace, and fidelity are central ideas in this introduction, emphasized by repetition and wordplays in the Greek. (1 Corinthians, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB, n.d.)
The Gospel of John presents 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.)
Rev. Jim Caime, SJ, shares how humour gives him just enough space to ask a more honest question: Where might God be inviting me to grow, not by doing more, but by seeing differently?
I don’t hear this as God demanding more effort or higher achievement. I hear it as God seeing more possibility than we often allow ourselves to see. The invitation is not to strive harder, but to trust that God’s imagination for our lives exceeds our own.
At 64, I can look back and see things I never imagined I would do. Much of what has shaped me unfolded beyond anything I planned. That helps me remember that what lies ahead is still unknown, even when I think I have a plan. And I’ve learned not to assume that the unknown is a problem.
So perhaps the question Isaiah leaves us with this week is not, “Am I doing enough?” but something simpler and more honest: Where might God be inviting me to see my life with God’s eyes, rather than my own measurements? (Caime, n.d.)
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 Corinthians 1:1-3 Today we begin the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, and this year’s theme comes from Ephesians 4:4: “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling.” That might remind you of today’s first reading. We are called, and that calling changes us. It’s meant to lead us to unity with everyone who belongs to Jesus. It’s meant to urge us to love each other to the point that we’re united.
So how do we start? A first step is to let Jesus help you see and love other Christians as fellow members of his body. So for the rest of this week, join believers around the world in praying the daily prayers for unity. You can find them starting on page 10 of this magazine.
“Lord, make us one in you!” (Meditation on 1 Corinthians 1:1-3, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments that Isaiah 49 is one of the songs of the Suffering Servant from Second Isaiah This servant is to raise up Israel and a light to the nations. Who is referred to here? Jesus used the vocabulary of the Suffering Servant to refer to Himself. Paul’s introduction to the Corinthians speaks to a port city with many troubles. As many as four letters from Paul repeat the name of Jesus in a community that thought the Holy Spirit was superior to Jesus. The Baptist calls Jesus the Lamb of God This phrase in Aramaic is used for “Servant of God” too. The Holy Spirit descended and remained on Jesus the Spirit as a dove, a symbol of Love in The Hebrew Testament. Friar Jude describes the Holy Spirit as the Love between Father and Son and for us. Christian Baptism is different from the Baptism of John as it is an invitation into the life of the Trinity.
Father Richard Rohr comments that great traditions always call people on a journey of faith to keep changing. There’s no other way the human person can open up to all that God is asking of us.
Immediately after he begins preaching, Jesus calls his first four disciples. Jesus just says, “Follow me” and immediately they leave their nets and follow him (Matthew 4:19–20). But today, the way I see people transformed doesn’t happen this quickly. Maybe it happened that way with Jesus and the disciples; I don’t want to say that it didn’t. A true disciple will have that kind of readiness. Most of us, though, would prefer some process of conversion, a series of conversations over a few weeks, with Jesus saying, “Hey, I’m into something new. Do you want to be a part of it? Let’s go.”
I hope we realize that we’re all called to discipleship. We hope that the point comes when we’re ready to let go of our nets: our sense of self, our security systems, and the way it’s always been. Fishing is Simon (Peter) and Andrew’s economic livelihood, and Jesus says to let go of it. He says, “I’m going to teach you how to fish in a new way, to fish for people” (Matthew 4:19). What he means is that he’s going to give them a new vocation. Hearing this Gospel passage, I hope we’re inspired to ask, “What is God asking us to do? Where is God asking us to go?” (Rohr, n.d.)
We join the Christian Community as anointed in Baptism as priest, prophet and leader presenting the Way of Jesus to the environment in which we are called to be a sign of love.
References
Caime, J. (n.d.). Daily Reflections. Creighton Online Ministries: Home. Retrieved January 18, 2026, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/
Isaiah, CHAPTER 49 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved January 18, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/isaiah/49?3=#29049003
John, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved January 18, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/1?29=#51001029
Meditation on 1 Corinthians 1:1-3. (n.d.). Word Among Us. Retrieved January 18, 2026, from https://wau.org/meditations/2026/01/18/1482253/
1 Corinthians, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved January 18, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1corinthians/1?1=#54001001
Psalms, PSALM 40 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved January 18, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/40?2
Rohr, R. (n.d.). Follow Me. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved January 18, 2026, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/follow-me/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Behold the Lamb of God! Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved January 18, 2026, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/
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