"Behold, the Lamb of God." This declaration by John the Baptist was enough to send two of his disciples to meet Jesus. It holds a profound and rooted meaning in the Bible and ancient Jewish worship. Among the sacrificial animals, the lamb is the purest offering, and its sacrifice is made in recognition of God's action on behalf of the People of God. In the biblical account of the Exodus from Egypt, its blood is a sign of belonging to God.

The prophet Isaiah compares the Messiah, the long-awaited Savior, to a lamb. Rejected, he bears the sins of his people and, through his self-giving life, renews the covenant with God. By designating Jesus as "the Lamb of God," John the Baptist recognizes in him the answer to the people of Israel's expectations. He is the awaited Messiah who acts in the name of God and through his powers. It is a paradoxical power, for it is through his sacrifice that he will bring about the expected purification and renewal.

Upon further reflection...

"Behold, the Lamb of God!" John the Baptist's exclamation is echoed by the priest just before communion. The Mass recreates the conditions of that first day recounted in the Gospel. We must first give credence to the Church's proclamation, revealing the One to whom she intends to lead us: "Behold, the Lamb of God." This Jesus, whom she designates in the Eucharist, poses the question to us: "What are you seeking?" Can I take this question seriously and step out of the confines of my reasoning to discover its roots, where he has chosen to dwell? "Teacher, where are you staying? – Come and see."

The celebration of the Eucharist answers this question. The Gospel conveys to us the imprint of Jesus in his disciples. We discover his roots in the faith of Israel and the anticipation of his people. We find ourselves gathered with other disciples, this community in which the Christ chooses to dwell: "Abide in me as I abide in you." All these signs recreate the circumstances of a faith decision in the face of this bread by which Jesus invites me to remember him and welcome him within me.

"Behold, the Lamb of God!" My daily life and relationships are not put on hold; they will be enriched and transformed by my decision to become one with the Lamb of God – his will, his spirit, and his love. In the midst of his disciples, I can hear him revealing my abilities, as he does with Simon. His Spirit will inspire in me actions and words that align with the liberation, healing, and rejuvenation of this world.

Régis Grosperrin is an Assumptionist priest at a parish in the northwest Parisian suburb of Conflans-Sainte-Honorine.