January 18, 2026

2^nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)

Courage & Reverence: Keys to Evangelize

Msgr Thomas Gervasio

“Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world.” We hear this proclamation of the Baptist in every Mass. A lamb symbolizes meekness and gentleness but St. John’s audience knew that St. John was referring to the Passover Lamb sacrificed for the remission of sins and Isaiah’s prophecy that the Messiah would be “like a lamb led to the slaughter” taking upon himself the sins of the world for our redemption. John’s mission is now accomplished and so he directs his disciples to Jesus: “Look no longer to me, but to Christ…He must increase. I must decrease.” 
 
This points to our own sense of mission. Like the Baptist, we should point others to Christ. We all know someone who does not come to Mass, who questions the need to be part of the Church, someone who struggles to believe, or stays away because he or she has been hurt by the Church.
 
 How can we point them to Christ and his Church? How might we invite them to experience the joy of being Catholic? It seems a daunting task, a challenge from which we shy away. But it can be done and is being done with surprising results, especially among young adults, often considered the most challenging demographic.
 
Recent statistics reveal a great number of young people turning to the Church. Some dioceses are seeing a 72% jump in converts. Weekly Mass attendance among young Catholics is up by 25% over last year. There are many factors causing this but I’d like to point out just two: 
 
The first is expressed by Fr. Raymond LaGrange of St. Vincent Ferrer Parish, NYC who contends that the most common impetus behind this change is that:“the young have come to realize the world cannot provide them with any moral order, or reasons for living in any particular way. A culture of license has left them unmoored.” They desire stability not ambiguity. 
 
So, our task is not to “dumb down” what the Church teaches but to courageously and lovingly challenge young people because they’re capable, actually capable of the highest ideals in learning. 
 
The popular approach was that the way to get young people back to church was to avoid teaching the “tough stuff” and convince them that the Church was just too slow on catching up with the prevailing culture. But we are beginning to realize that while we might want the culture to transform the Church, the Church’s duty is to transform the culture. 
 
The second factor in this change in youth is their desire for worship that is steeped in tradition, reverent and beautiful. They desire an experience of the transcendent, of awe and mystery. Holy Mass is the most powerful vehicle that points to Christ. This gives us pause to consider the way we carry out our parish celebrations. Do they convey a sense of reverence, awe, and mystery?
 
Lord Jesus, St. John the Baptist pointed others to you. It is a what discipleship calls me to do. Grant me the courage to share the joy of my faith with those I meet each day. Help me to share to share the truth of the Gospel with love. Help me also to provide good example at worship by my reverence, prayerfulness, active participation, and silent reflection. These are lights that can shine through me in such a way that it leads others to you. Amen.