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Bishop's Homily for the Second Sunday of Ordinary Time

January 18, 2026

(sergey kolesnikov / Shutterstock.com)

Homily of the Most Reverend Larry Silva, Bishop of Honolulu
[St. John the Baptist Church, Kalihi (with Installation of Pastor), St. George Church, Waimanalo (Santo Niño Celebration)]

Despite the many beautiful images of sheep and lambs we are presented in the Scriptures, it needs to be said that very few people raise sheep as pets. Yes, the shepherd needs to lead them to green pastures where waters flow, but in the end, he will lead them to slaughter. Otherwise, he and his family will not eat. Sheep and lambs really do lay down their lives for us, giving us wool to keep us warm and to clothe us with dignity, but giving their own flesh for our nourishment.

When John the Baptist points out Jesus as the Lamb of God, this son of a priest knew very well that this was not simply an honorific title, but that this Lamb would literally lay down his life for us, even giving himself to us as food to nourish and strengthen us not only in this life, but in life everlasting.

But Jesus gives himself to us in this way so that we can give ourselves to others in the same way, not being afraid to lay down our lives for others, so that they may have more abundant life. The people of Israel are told that it is too little for them to be his servants, they are, in fact, to be a light to all nations, attracting others to the true and living God by their own lives and their own commitments.

Children look to their parents to be their lambs, who lay down their lives for them, and parents do make many sacrifices for their children. But they are also called to have their children baptized and confirmed, so that they, too, can be not only servants of the Lord but a light to others because of the love of God that has been poured into them. This kind of love can be consuming, but it is a rewarding love that never ultimately burns one out.

As community members, we are also called to be a light to the nations, drawing near to the Lamb of God, so that he may teach us HIS ways of justice. When we see the homeless or witness wars of conflicts in the world, it is never an option for us to simply sit by passively. Like the Lamb of God, we are called to be engaged in the struggles of others, just as Jesus engaged himself in our struggles. It is our vision of peace, of justice, and of the dignity of every human person that will ultimately bring healing and light to this often dark world in which we live.

The words of John the Baptist, “Behold the Lamb of God” are the very words spoken to us when we are invited into the most intimate and holy communion with the Lord Jesus, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins off the world. This communion is not simply for our own spiritual good, but so that we may be fattened up, as it were, given the spiritual bulk we need to then go out and nourish others with the love of Christ himself. John the Baptist recognized and proclaimed that, while what he was doing was important, it was nothing compared to what Jesus could do in immersing us in the self-sacrificing love of God through his own life, death and resurrection. So it is that we are called to be the kinds of servants that John was, sparing nothing so that we could open for many others the way to true change for the better, true repentance, and true and eternal life.

While a lamb might struggle a bit at the moment he is slaughtered, he then can give his life so that others might live. So it was with Jesus, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. So it will be for us who are called to be the servants of the Lord, the sheep of his pasture, and the light to all nations.