About Today
Sunday 18 January 2026
2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
We are the people of the Lord, the flock that is led by his hand: come, let us adore him, alleluia.
Year: A(II). Psalm week: 2. Liturgical Colour: Green.
Other saints: Feast of the Santo Niño
Philippines
The devotion to the Santo Niño (Holy Child) is the oldest and one of the most popular in the Philippines. When Legazpi landed on the island of Cebu in 1565, one of his soldiers found an image of the Child Jesus. It is believed to be the same statue Magellan had given to the wife of the chieftain of the island after her baptism. The image is venerated today in the Basilica of Cebu. For Filipino Catholics the Holy Child represents a God who is accessible to all and can be approached without fear. The devotion instils the virtues of simplicity, obedience, and trust in God. At the same time it calls for mature discipleship and loving service to all.
Other saints: St. Margaret of Hungary OP (1242 - 1270)
18 Jan (where celebrated)
Dominican Nun and Virgin.
Margaret was born in 1242, the daughter of Bela IV, King of Hungary, and Maria Lascaris, daughter of the emperor of Constantinople. Before her birth her parents had vowed to dedicate their child to God if Hungary would be victorious over the invading Tartars. Their prayers were answered and so when almost four years old Margaret was placed in the Dominican monastery of Veszprim. At the age of twelve she moved to a new monastery built by her father near Buda and there made profession into the hands of Humbert of Romans. Margaret lived a life totally dedicated to Christ crucified and inspired her sisters by her asceticism, her works of mercy, her pursuit of peace, and her humble service. She had a special love for the Eucharist and the Passion of Christ and showed a special devotion to the Holy Spirit and Our Lady. She died on January 18, 1270.
At that time: John saw Jesus coming towards him, and said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, “After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.” I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptising with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.’ And John bore witness: ‘I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptise with water said to me, “He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptises with the Holy Spirit.” And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.’
Reflection on the painting
We know well the words that open today’s Gospel: “Behold the Lamb of God.” We hear them at every Mass as the priest lifts up the host before Holy Communion. In that moment, our attention is drawn away from ourselves and fixed entirely on Jesus, the One who gives himself to us as the Bread of Life. John the Baptist’s whole mission was to point away from himself and towards Christ. The Mass does the same: it draws our gaze entirely to the Lord who comes to us in the holy Eucharist.
I have always found it striking how quickly everything happens after we receive Holy Communion. We are given the very Body of Christ and then, almost immediately, the priest offers a brief prayer, a final blessing, and we are sent out the doors. There is hardly any pause between the gift of the sacred host we receive and the mission we are given. The Church wastes no time because Christ does not want to remain only on our tongues... he wants to be carried into the streets, workplaces, hospitals, schools, into every corner of the world. Mass ends, and we are sent on mission to proclaim. We leave the altar like living tabernacles, Christ burning inside us, called to set hearts alight with the love we have just consumed. Communion is not just for us, it is fuel for the world.I have always found it striking how quickly everything happens after we receive Holy Communion. We are given the very Body of Christ and then, almost immediately, the priest offers a brief prayer, a final blessing, and we are sent out the doors. There is hardly any pause between the gift of the sacred host we receive and the mission we are given. The Church wastes no time because Christ does not want to remain only on our tongues... he wants to be carried into the streets, workplaces, hospitals, schools, into every corner of the world. Mass ends, and we are sent on mission to proclaim. We leave the altar like living tabernacles, Christ burning inside us, called to set hearts alight with the love we have just consumed. Communion is not just for us, it is fuel for the world.
The Defenders of the Eucharist, painted circa 1625, by Peter Paul Rubens is a powerful Baroque celebration of Catholic faith in the Real Presence of Christ in the holy Eucharist. It was painted during a time of intense religious conflict in Europe, a catholic response to Protestantism that was sweeping through Europe. Rubens paints a group of towering saints closely associated with Eucharistic devotion and doctrine — including early Church Fathers such as Saint Jerome and Saint Ambrose, medieval theologians like Saint Thomas Aquinas, and great saints like Saint Clare of Assisi, presenting them as a unified spiritual force guarding the Blessed Sacrament. The saints are shown surrounding a magnificent monstrance, their gestures leading the viewer’s eyes toward the consecrated Host at the centre, the very heart of Catholic worship. The Holy Spirit as a dove is hovering above, whilst angels are holding floral and fruiting garlands. The bottom edge shows books of Scripture, the place where it all starts.
The Defenders of the Eucharist,
Painting by Peter Paul Rubens (1577–1640),
Painted circa 1625,
Oil on canvas
© The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, Sarasota, Florida
2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
We are the people of the Lord, the flock that is led by his hand: come, let us adore him, alleluia.
Year: A(II). Psalm week: 2. Liturgical Colour: Green.
Other saints: Feast of the Santo Niño
Philippines
The devotion to the Santo Niño (Holy Child) is the oldest and one of the most popular in the Philippines. When Legazpi landed on the island of Cebu in 1565, one of his soldiers found an image of the Child Jesus. It is believed to be the same statue Magellan had given to the wife of the chieftain of the island after her baptism. The image is venerated today in the Basilica of Cebu. For Filipino Catholics the Holy Child represents a God who is accessible to all and can be approached without fear. The devotion instils the virtues of simplicity, obedience, and trust in God. At the same time it calls for mature discipleship and loving service to all.
Other saints: St. Margaret of Hungary OP (1242 - 1270)
18 Jan (where celebrated)
Dominican Nun and Virgin.
Margaret was born in 1242, the daughter of Bela IV, King of Hungary, and Maria Lascaris, daughter of the emperor of Constantinople. Before her birth her parents had vowed to dedicate their child to God if Hungary would be victorious over the invading Tartars. Their prayers were answered and so when almost four years old Margaret was placed in the Dominican monastery of Veszprim. At the age of twelve she moved to a new monastery built by her father near Buda and there made profession into the hands of Humbert of Romans. Margaret lived a life totally dedicated to Christ crucified and inspired her sisters by her asceticism, her works of mercy, her pursuit of peace, and her humble service. She had a special love for the Eucharist and the Passion of Christ and showed a special devotion to the Holy Spirit and Our Lady. She died on January 18, 1270.
Behold, the Lamb of God
Gospel:John 1:29-34
At that time: John saw Jesus coming towards him, and said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, “After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.” I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptising with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.’ And John bore witness: ‘I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptise with water said to me, “He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptises with the Holy Spirit.” And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.’
Reflection on the painting
We know well the words that open today’s Gospel: “Behold the Lamb of God.” We hear them at every Mass as the priest lifts up the host before Holy Communion. In that moment, our attention is drawn away from ourselves and fixed entirely on Jesus, the One who gives himself to us as the Bread of Life. John the Baptist’s whole mission was to point away from himself and towards Christ. The Mass does the same: it draws our gaze entirely to the Lord who comes to us in the holy Eucharist.
I have always found it striking how quickly everything happens after we receive Holy Communion. We are given the very Body of Christ and then, almost immediately, the priest offers a brief prayer, a final blessing, and we are sent out the doors. There is hardly any pause between the gift of the sacred host we receive and the mission we are given. The Church wastes no time because Christ does not want to remain only on our tongues... he wants to be carried into the streets, workplaces, hospitals, schools, into every corner of the world. Mass ends, and we are sent on mission to proclaim. We leave the altar like living tabernacles, Christ burning inside us, called to set hearts alight with the love we have just consumed. Communion is not just for us, it is fuel for the world.I have always found it striking how quickly everything happens after we receive Holy Communion. We are given the very Body of Christ and then, almost immediately, the priest offers a brief prayer, a final blessing, and we are sent out the doors. There is hardly any pause between the gift of the sacred host we receive and the mission we are given. The Church wastes no time because Christ does not want to remain only on our tongues... he wants to be carried into the streets, workplaces, hospitals, schools, into every corner of the world. Mass ends, and we are sent on mission to proclaim. We leave the altar like living tabernacles, Christ burning inside us, called to set hearts alight with the love we have just consumed. Communion is not just for us, it is fuel for the world.
The Defenders of the Eucharist, painted circa 1625, by Peter Paul Rubens is a powerful Baroque celebration of Catholic faith in the Real Presence of Christ in the holy Eucharist. It was painted during a time of intense religious conflict in Europe, a catholic response to Protestantism that was sweeping through Europe. Rubens paints a group of towering saints closely associated with Eucharistic devotion and doctrine — including early Church Fathers such as Saint Jerome and Saint Ambrose, medieval theologians like Saint Thomas Aquinas, and great saints like Saint Clare of Assisi, presenting them as a unified spiritual force guarding the Blessed Sacrament. The saints are shown surrounding a magnificent monstrance, their gestures leading the viewer’s eyes toward the consecrated Host at the centre, the very heart of Catholic worship. The Holy Spirit as a dove is hovering above, whilst angels are holding floral and fruiting garlands. The bottom edge shows books of Scripture, the place where it all starts.
The Defenders of the Eucharist,
Painting by Peter Paul Rubens (1577–1640),
Painted circa 1625,
Oil on canvas
© The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, Sarasota, Florida