In the Traditional Roman Rite, the time between Christmas and Lent is called the Season after Epiphany. Though the Christmas festivities have ended, the Church continues to unfold the great mystery of who Jesus truly is.

The word Epiphany comes from the Greek epiphaneia, meaning “manifestation” or “divine appearing.” The Church is still proclaiming the revelation of Christ — not merely that He was born, but who He is. This is the mystery of God revealing Himself to the world.

Once again in today’s Gospel we meet St. John the Baptist, whose testimony expresses the early Church’s clear faith in the person of Jesus Christ. John points to Him and declares, “Behold the Lamb of God.” Every Jew of that time would immediately understand the meaning. Jesus is the Lamb of sacrifice — chosen by God and offered for sin. Yet He is not merely one sacrifice among many. He is the Lamb who “takes away the sin of the world.”

In the Old Testament, the priest symbolically placed the sins of the people upon the scapegoat and sent it into the wilderness, carrying away their guilt. Jesus now fulfills and surpasses that figure. He does not symbolically remove sin — He truly destroys it by His own Blood.

John then reveals Christ’s divine rank. Although John was born first, Jesus existed before him. He comes from God, is sent by God, and is God. Here we glimpse the mystery of the hypostatic union: Jesus is fully God and fully man. Only a man can suffer and die — therefore He takes our nature. Only God can offer a sacrifice of infinite value — therefore His offering redeems the world. In Christ, the perfect sacrifice is made.

John recognizes the Messiah because God had revealed Him: “On whomever you see the Spirit descend and remain, He is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.”

At every Mass, the priest repeats John’s words: “Behold the Lamb of God.” The sacrifice of Calvary is not repeated, but re-presented — made present again upon this altar. The same Lamb who died once for our salvation now comes sacramentally to feed His people.

Let us place our hope and trust in the Lamb of God who came to rescue us. We are His people, purchased not with silver or gold, but with His Precious Blood.