Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A – Homily (2026)
2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A
Isaiah 49:3, 5-6
Psalm 40:2-, 4, 7-8, 8-9, 10 (8a, 9a)
1 Corinthians 1:1-3
John 1:29-34
January 18, 2026
Paul speaks of himself as one “called to be an apostle.” For Paul, his work to share the gospel message is not simply a job. It is not something he chooses to do on his own. Paul recognizes it as a calling in accord with the “will of God.”
In our psalm response we all joined in singing, “Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.” Do you mean the words you sang? Are you ready to answer God’s call and do his will?
Is it your delight to do God’s Will?
Do you recognize God’s law written in your heart?
You and I, all of us, are called to be God’s servant. This is a calling rooted in our Baptism.
God wants to show his glory through you. Do you let his glory, do you let the faith you have been given shine through you to others or do you hide your faith from the world?
Look around our church. Where are all the people? Who do you know that doesn’t come to church. Have you ever spoken to them about what you believe? If you have, when was the last time? Did it feel like a waste of time because they didn’t listen. So what? Don’t worry about toiling in vain. Do what you can and then put it in God’s hands.
Many people have left our Christian faith. God wants to bring them all back. Many people have never been taught our faith. God wants to gather them all to him. He wants to do it through you.
Are you thinking, “Who, me?”
Do not be afraid!
From the gift of faith you have been given, be a servant who proclaims, “my God is now my strength.” God will give you whatever you need to do his will to be “a light to the nations” so that his “salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.
This starts with your next neighbor or perhaps a family member or a friend you have.
In bringing us to Baptism, God calls all of us to be holy. To be holy is to do God’s Will. It is not just priests, deacons, and religious that are called to be holy. Everyone is.
Do you have sins that you think stand in the way of you being holy? Yes, sins do stand in the way of holiness. God has a solution.
The solution is Jesus Christ who is the one of whom John the Baptist said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.”
Do not run from Jesus because of your sins! When you sin, run to Jesus in the Sacrament of Reconciliation so He can take away your sins.
Do you feel unworthy?
On our own we are unworthy. Let Jesus who is greater than you make you worthy.
If you feel like you don’t know as much about our faith as you should, know that you are not alone. Speaking of Jesus, John the Baptist says, “I did not know him but the reason why I came baptizing with water was that he might be made known to Israel.”
Is it easy?
No.
There is sin in the world and it is spreading. Sin is a pandemic for which Jesus Christ is the cure.
The presence of sin in the world is nothing new. When Paul wrote of holiness, he was writing to the people in Corinth. Corinth was an important city on various trade routes. Thus, it had significant material wealth, “cutting-edge ideas,” and various spiritual practices.
Corinth was also a place of sin. When I hear of the sins in Corinth, I think of the old TV show, Lost in Space. I remember scenes where, when the robot sensed danger, he called out, “Danger Will Robinson, danger.”
When we find ourselves in the occasions of sin, we need to call out danger. We need to avoid the occasions of sin.
Yet, where there is sin, there is also opportunity for evangelization, to proclaim the forgiveness Jesus brings to us through his death on the Cross. The proclamation of the Gospel starts with telling people that Jesus willingly laid down his life for us on the Cross as an act of love from his Sacred Heart.
When it comes to proclaiming the gospel, do not be a hypocrite. Practice what you preach. Admit you are a sinner in need of God’s mercy.
Open your ears in obedience to God’s commandments.
Let God “put a new song” into your mouth. Let the Holy Spirit give you the words to speak. Speak of the Lord’s justice by speaking of his forgiveness.
Give it all to Jesus and you will be saved.