Preacher’s Sketchbook:

Each week, a Dominican member of the Province of St. Joseph’s Preaching Advisory Board prepares this Preacher’s Sketchbook in anticipation of the upcoming Sunday Mass. The idea of the Preacher’s Sketchbook is to take quotations from the authority of the Church–the Pope, the Fathers of the Church, documents of the Councils, the saints–that can help spark ideas for the Sunday homily. Just as an artist’s sketchbook preserves ideas for later elaboration, so we hope the Preacher’s Sketchbook will provide some ideas for homiletical elaboration.

John Paul II, General Audience, August 30, 2000

When God seeks out the rebellious son who flees far from his sight, he does so with particular insistence and love. God traveled the tortuous roads of sinners through his Son, Jesus Christ, who, bursting onto history’s stage, is presented as “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world” (Jn 1,29). Here are the first words he says in public: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” (Mt 4,17). An important term appears which Jesus will repeatedly explain in words and deeds: “Repent”, in Greek metanoeite, that is, make a metanoia, a radical change of mind and heart. It is necessary to turn away from evil and to enter the kingdom of justice, love and truth which is being established.

John Paul II, Jubilee in Prisons, Homily, July 9, 2000

However, the prophet Isaiah’s words about liberation should be understood in the light of the whole history of salvation, which culminates in Christ, the Redeemer who took upon himself the sin of the world (cf. Jn Jn 1,29). God cares about the total liberation of the human person, a liberation not only concerns physical and external conditions, but is first and foremost a liberation of the heart.

John Paul II, Jubilee in Prisons, Homily, July 9, 2000

The hope of this liberation is found throughout creation: “The whole creation has been groaning in travail together until now” (Rm 8,22). However, the prophet Isaiah’s words about liberation should be understood in the light of the whole history of salvation, which culminates in Christ This cosmic dimension of the effects of sin becomes almost tangible in ecological disasters. No less worrying is the damage caused by sin to the human psyche, to human biology itself. Sin is devastating. It drives peace from hearts and causes a chain of sufferings in human relationships.

John Paul II, Jubilee in Prisons, Homily, July 9, 2000

This is precisely the slavery from which the Spirit of God comes to deliver us. He, the Gift par excellence which Christ obtained for us, “helps us in our weakness … intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words” (Rm 8,26). If we follow his promptings, he achieves our complete salvation, “adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies” (Rm 8,23).

John Paul II, Holy Thursday, Homily, March 27, 1997

The people were to be freed from slavery in Egypt, they were to leave the land of slavery in freedom and the price of their ransom was the blood of the lamb.

John Paul II, Holy Thursday, Homily, March 27, 1997

That lamb of the Old Covenant found its fullness of meaning in the New Covenant. This was brought about also through the prophetic ministry of John the Baptist, who, pointing to Jesus of Nazareth as he came to the River Jordan to be baptized, had said: “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (Jn 1,29).

John Paul II, Holy Thursday, Homily, March 27, 1997

It is no coincidence that these words are found at the center of the Eucharistic Liturgy. The readings of this Holy Mass of the Lord’s Supper remind us of them, to show us that by this living Memorial we are entering the hour of Christ’s Passion. It is precisely at this hour that the mystery of the Lamb of God will be revealed. The words spoken by the Baptist at the Jordan will thus receive their clear fulfillment. Christ is going to be crucified. As Son of God he will accept death, in order to free the world from sin.

John Paul II, General Audience, June 3, 1998

John preached “a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins” (Lc 3,3). We find Jesus among the crowd of sinners coming to be baptized by John. He recognizes him and proclaims him the innocent lamb who takes away the sin of the world (cf. Jn 1,29), to lead humanity back to communion with God. The Father expresses his pleasure with his beloved Son, who becomes an obedient servant unto death, and gives him the Spirit’s power so that he can carry out his mission as the Messiah-Savior.