Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
January 18, 2026
Isaiah 49:3, 5-6; Psalm 40:2, 4, 7-8, 8-9, 10; 1 Corinthians 1:1-3; John 1:29-34
“Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” These prophetic words of John the Baptist ring so loud and strong in a world of suffering, pain and death. I think of my beloved Venezuela, where Maryknoll missioners lived and worked in the slums of Caracas for many years. Especially now, we feel a strong bond with the Venezuelan people as they experience fear, threats and deaths by the powerful.
I heard Venezuelans say, “Oil is not a blessing but a curse.” For over one hundred years since the exportation of oil, Venezuelans have suffered from the structural sins of bad government, greedy big business and oppressive military presence. In the huge slums of the capital, I heard poor families say, “We have a rich government, and we are a poor people.”
Venezuela is a Christian country. Since the colonization of the country by Spain, Venezuelans have not only kept the faith, but they have spread their faith particularly through popular religiosity. The revered national patroness is Our Lady of Coromoto, who appeared in 1652, leading to mass conversion. A large national basilica is built where Our Lady appeared to the Indigenous peoples in Guanare, Central Venezuela, which symbolizes Venezuelan identity, faith and unity. Five Catholic priests signed the Declaration of Independence from Spain.
Since 1955, Fe y Alegría (Faith and Joy) Catholic schools for the poor have been established across Venezuela and throughout Latin America. Venezuelan Catholics pride themselves on the prestigious Andres Bello Catholic University. Venezuela has produced liberation theologians such as Jesuits Father Pedro Trigo and Father Arturo Sosa, who is presently the superior general of the Jesuits. Cardinal Baltazar Porras, created by Pope Francis, has been an outspoken critic of the Venezuelan government. His passport has been revoked and his travel restricted. The Venezuelan Catholic community has been courageous and prophetic, and has quietly suffered.
John testified, “Jesus will baptize with the Holy Spirit.” For primitive Christianity, Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah, and through baptism we receive the Holy Spirit, God’s life and grace. So too in Venezuelan culture, baptism is a very important spiritual practice as well as a cornerstone of their Catholic faith. Within the first week, families with a new baby will baptize the child in privacy of their home. Godparents come to the house. The parents hand over their child. The godparents will baptize with water saying, “I baptize your child in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. You gave us your child as a pagan, we return your child as a Christian.” Venezuelans possess a deep faith in Jesus, the Lamb of God’s redeeming and saving grace.
The Lamb of God is perhaps the apocalyptic lamb who would destroy evil in the world. As Revelation says, “They will fight with the Lamb, but the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and king of kings, and those with him are called, chosen and faithful.” (17:14)
Venezuelans are chosen and faithful. They will hear these words at today’s Eucharist: “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” And they will faithfully respond, “Lord, I am not worthy but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.” The sins are from the structures of society, including government, big business and abusive military power. The vast majority of Venezuelans have suffered hardship and poverty. As we receive and accept Jesus’ body, let us remember those Christians who suffer for their faith. Let us pray in union with the poor people who suffer at the hands of the powerful. Let us ask that Jesus’ Spirit of healing and wholeness be poured upon the peoples who suffer in our unjust world.
St. Paul would say today: Behold our brothers and sisters who are in Venezuela, “to you who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus … who call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours.” Lasting Peace be with you!
Maryknoll Father Leo Shea has been a priest for almost 60 years. Originally from Boston, he has served in mission in Venezuela, Hong Kong and Jamaica, as well as on the Maryknoll Society General Council.
To read other Scripture reflections published by the Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns, click here.
Featured image: A woman prays during a Vatican canonization ceremony for Blessed José Gregorio Hernández, known as the “Doctor of the Poor,” and Blessed María Carmen Elena Rendiles Martínez as it is projected on a big screen in La Candelaria Square in Caracas, Venezuela, Oct. 19, 2025. At the Vatican Pope Leo XIV canonized the two Venezuelans along with five other blesseds. (OSV News/Leonardo Fernandez Viloria, Reuters)
