“... and as he watched Jesus walk by, he said, “Behold, the Lamb of God.”” (John 1:36.)
In commenting on these verses from today’s Gospel proclamation, Saint John Chrysostom writes:
Not by voice alone but with his eyes also [John] bore witness to and expressed his esteem and praise of Christ. At this point he addresses no word of exhortation to his followers either. Instead he only shows wonder and astonishment at the one who was present. John declares to everyone the gift that this one came to give. He also declares the manner of purification. For “the Lamb” declares both of these things. Notice also he did not say “who shall take” or “who has taken” but “who takes away the sins of the world,” because this is what he continually does. He took them not only then when he suffered, but from that time even to the present he takes them away. He is not repeatedly crucified (for he offered one sacrifice for sins) but by that one sacrifice continually purges them. As then the Word shows us his preeminence and the Son his superiority in comparison with others, so the lamb, the Christ, that prophet, the true light, the good shepherd and whatever other names are applied to him with the addition of the article, mark a great difference. For there were many “lambs” and “prophets” and “christs” and “sons.” But John separates [Christ] from all of these by a wide margin. He secured this not only by the article but by the addition of “only begotten,” since he had nothing in common with the creation. (Homiles of the Gospel of John, 18.)
Collect
O God,
Who crowned with the gift of true faith
Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton’s
burning zeal to find You,
grant by her intercession and example
that we may always seek You with diligent love
and find You in daily service with sincere faith.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,
Who lives and reigns with You
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
Who crowned with the gift of true faith
Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton’s
burning zeal to find You,
grant by her intercession and example
that we may always seek You with diligent love
and find You in daily service with sincere faith.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,
Who lives and reigns with You
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
Glory to the Father
and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and will be forever. Amen
