Franciscan Friar Fr. Paul Gallagher reflects on the Gospel readings for the Second Sunday of Ordinary Time 2026. Do you know people who are like John the Baptist in some way?
The content is edited by Franciscan Sister of Christian Charity Sister Anne Marie Lom and Joe Thiel. The excerpts from the Sunday readings are prepared by Joe Thiel. To read or download the complete pdf with excerpts for your prayer, please click here: Franciscan Gospel Reflection January 18 2026 Excerpts are from the Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States of America, second typical edition © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC. Used with permission. All rights reserved. No portion of this text may be reproduced by any means without permission in writing from the copyright owner. Photo: St. John the Baptist, Edgar, Wisconsin; St. John the Baptist, Plymouth, Wisconsin
John 1:29-34
The next day John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. He is the one of whom I said, ‘A man is coming after me who ranks ahead of me because he existed before me.’ I did not know him, but the reason why I came baptizing with water was that he might be made known to Israel.” John testified further, saying, “I saw the Spirit come down like a dove from the sky and remain upon him. I did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘On whomever you see the Spirit come down and remain, he is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ Now I have seen and testified that he is the Son of God.”
Background:
This Sunday the Church moves into celebrating Ordinary time. Last Sunday, the feast of the Baptism of Jesus ended the Christmas Season. The readings shift from the infant child Jesus who is being cared for by his parents to the adult Jesus who takes up his ministry.
Directly preceding this text, the Jewish authorities have come to John the Baptist to ask why he has been prophesying concerning the coming of Jesus. The Gospel text begins “the next day…” While the Gospel does not actually describe the baptism of Jesus, it is the Baptist’s testimony concerning the baptism and its significance—that it is a clear and trustworthy sign that Jesus is the long-awaited messiah. The text portrays John the Baptist as an eyewitness to the descent of the Spirit upon Jesus. Even though Jesus was John’s cousin, it was God who told him Jesus was the Son of God.
People of the day brought their disputes to the elders of the community. Those on either side of the dispute would bring their “witnesses,” who would, with great passion, present reasons for supporting their side of the argument or person they favored. The side with the strongest witnesses in terms of number, status, and passionate testimony usually carried the argument. John uses this familiar practice in the way he has composed his Gospel. The witnesses he calls upon throughout his Gospel are John the Baptist, Jesus’ own works, the Hebrew Scriptures, and God himself.
In today’s Gospel John the Baptist functions as the key witness. His testimony is important on two levels. He is known as a person who speaks the truth no matter what the cost. By the time John writes his Gospel, the death of John the Baptist at the hands of Herod was known. He is also known as the one who abandoned the temple ministry of this father Zechariah to go out into the desert to preach repentance in preparation for the coming of the Messiah.
There were those who wondered if John the Baptist might be the messiah. Earlier in the Gospel John describes the Baptist this way: “A man named John was sent from God. He came for testimony, to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to testify to the light.” (John 1:5-8) The Gospel indicates that a great many people came out to be baptized by John. Those opposed to the idea of Jesus as the Messiah, the scribes and Pharisees, also opposed the Baptist and questioned his authority to baptize.
In the verses that precede this text, the evangelist reminds his community of this fact. “When the Jews from Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to him to ask him, ‘Who are you?’ he admitted and did not deny it, but admitted, ‘I am not the Messiah.’ So, they asked him, ‘What are you then? Are you Elijah?’ And he said, ‘I am not.’ ‘Are you the Prophet?’ He answered, ‘No.’ So they said to him, ‘Who are you, so we can give an answer to those who sent us? What do you have to say for yourself?’ He said: ‘I am “the voice of one crying out in the desert, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’” as Isaiah the prophet said.’ Some Pharisees were also sent to John the Baptist. They asked him, ‘Why then do you baptize if you are not the Messiah or Elijah or the Prophet?’ John answered them, ‘I baptize with water; but there is one among you whom you do not recognize, the one who is coming after me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie.’” (John 1:19-27) John the Baptist is a respected and powerful witness to the claim that John is making for Jesus as the Messiah.
Reflection Questions:
- Do you know people who are like John the Baptist in some way?
- John admits twice in the text, “I did not know him.” How do you understand his statement?
- John also publicly acknowledges that Jesus is the more significant person, and calls him “the Lamb of God,” and at the end of the text, “the Son of God.” Does John’s understanding of himself, his cousin, and his role in scripture shed light on the journey of understanding one’s relationship to God or Jesus?
- How is the journey of self-discovery before God taking place in your life?
- In the last verse of the Gospel text, John the Baptist states that he testifies to what he has experienced and seen. What is your experience and what have you seen of God working in your life?
- Can you take some time now to talk with God honestly about your impression of John the Baptist, the testimony he has given here to the importance of Jesus, or perhaps your own understanding of our role of pointing to the presence of God?
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