Homily – Deacon Joe Oberting

January 18, 2026 – Year A - OT2 Sun10 & 5 R1: Isaiah 49:3, 5-6

You are my servant, through whom I show my glory.

Psalm 40 “Here am I, Lord, I come to do your will.”

R2: 1Corinthians 1:1-3 Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God.

Gospel: John 1:29-34 John the Baptist: Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

♬♬ Here am I, Lord, I come to do your will. ♪

The summary tying together today’s readings says this: “Jesus, the Lamb of God, is the light of the nations who came to do the Father’s will. In Christ we have been called to be a holy people.” In the psalm it says ‘I waited for the Lord, and he put a new song into my mouth, ears open to obedience you gave me. I said, “Behold I come.” Your law is within my heart. I announced your justice to the vast assembly. I did your will, as you, O Lord, know.’ The Christmas season has ended. Now, what do we do? Do we allow the Lord to enter our hearts? It is next to impossible to share the love of God with others, if we haven’t experienced his love ourselves. When I was a freshman in college, I felt a desire to read through the entire bible.

But I waited for a time, because I was afraid I might change. I proceeded into the effort because I came to the conclusion that if I were to change, it would be something I really wanted. Recently, however, I heard that perhaps a better approach would have been that I hoped I would change! I had to open my heart a bit more and not be afraid. So, back to the question: Now, what do we do? Continue growing closer to the Lord, allowing ourselves to be molded into what Our Lord had in mind from our very beginning. Isaiah tells us: “Now the Lord had spoken who formed me as his servant from the womb.” He is calling each one of us! Whether you are 3, or 7, or 11, or 15 - or 35, or 55, or older. It’s not too early, and it’s not too late, to hear the Lord’s calling and to answer: “Send me. Send me.” What is my role? How can I help? When our children were going to school here at St. John’s we knew it would be challenging, academically, but also personally.

I would tell them that if they saw someone being bullied that I wanted them to stick up for that other child, their classmate. I hope you who are in school today, at 1 whatever your age or grade, can do the same. Defend someone who is in a weaker position. It will most likely challenge you and place you in a tough position. That can be a scary place to be because it will not make you very popular. Do you know what it will do? You, like Jesus, will be doing the Father’s will. It will help you become a leader. Someone who can help and guide others through difficult situations. We are at Mass now, and hear and say: “Here am I, Lord, I come to do your will.” The challenge is to take that back to school on Monday, and Tuesday, and figure out what that really means. For us adults, we also eagerly want to do the Father’s will, and we are filled with eagerness as we are with other Christians gathered to learn and grow and pray. What will face us on Monday, and Tuesday? Whatever it is, we will certainly have opportunities to act as Jesus would. Offer a kind word, lend a helping hand, complete (or make significant progress) on that project our boss has assigned to us. Maybe your children will come home from school and desperately want you to sit with them for a moment to understand their challenges, and help them to navigate different situations. Ask the Lord for guidance before you speak. Do your best.

Allow your children to do their best. You know, John the Baptist was also scared. Last week, when we heard that Jesus came to him to be baptized, he was probably shaking. “I need to be baptized by you, and yet you are coming to me?” Jesus said, “Allow it now, for it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Once John did that, he became more confident. Today we hear him say, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” John realized his calling - to be a leader, a “forerunner” of Christ Jesus. He ‘allowed’ Jesus to guide him. We have two examples to help us in our lives today. John and Jesus. The one crying out in the desert, and the one who is divine, and who humbled himself to become one of us. Jesus is greater than John.

But what better example to help us in tough times than one who opened his heart, allowed the Lord to move him, and fulfilled the will of God the Father - than John. 2 The inspired word of God throughout scripture, throughout the bible, gives us many more examples of people who followed the will of God. Take as example the mothers. Elizabeth, the mother of John, and Mary, the earthly mother of Jesus. They had opened their hearts and allowed the Lord into their lives. Elizabeth was thought to be too old to have a baby. Yet she was indeed expecting.

Mary had not yet even married. She (and Joseph) had to be strong to overcome ridicule and strange looks for becoming pregnant before being married. She (and we) knew (and know) that she had conceived by the Holy Spirit - a divine act. So, what we do now is up to us. Each of us has unique gifts and talents. Remain open to inspiration and discovery. Be inspired by those who came before us. Pray. Listen. Develop a desire to grow and change - and become everything Our Lord has made us for. For our good and the good of others. Allow it now, to fulfill all righteousness.