The Gospel
January 18, 2026
2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
John 1:29-34
It’s common to hear belief in Jesus and the Church mocked as blind faith and credulity. But in reality, it is deeply human and rational. Think about it: we rely on the testimony of others constantly. I trust chemists who certify the safety of toothpaste and cleaning products. I trust engineers when I use a microwave or drive over a bridge. Why? Because they have studied and seen what I have not, and their testimony proves itself in daily life. That kind of trust is not irrational; it is how human knowledge works.
In today’s Gospel, John the Baptist declares: “Now I have seen and testified that he is the Son of God” (John 1:34). That is the language of an eyewitness. It invites us into a very human act: trusting someone who has directly encountered something — or Someone — we have not yet fully seen ourselves.
The Church’s faith is built on this kind of reliable sight-based testimony. The Apostles did not make abstract claims. They saw, followed, suffered for, and proclaimed Jesus Christ. Over centuries, their witness — carried in Scripture, in the lives of the saints, and in the sacramental life of the Church — has proven dependable. We come to know its truth by assenting to it, by living and studying it, praying with it, trusting it.
Faith in Christ is not a childish leap into the dark. It is a step into the light of testimony that proves itself over time.
— Father John Muir
©LPi