St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

Read: 1 Jn 3: 7-10 Jn 1: 35-42

“John was with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God.’ The two disciples heard what he said and followed Jesus.” (Jn 1:35-37)

John the Baptist knew that the Messiah would have to sacrifice His life for the remission of sin (Jn 1: 29), as was for the animal sacrifices of goats and lambs in the Temple under the old Law.

He knew of the Messiah’s fate through the words of the prophets who came before him and spoke of the suffering, crucifixion, and death of the Lord many centuries before (Is 53:6-7 and Jer 11:18 -19).

In the Mosaic Law, a penitent was to offer lambs, sheep, goats, and young cattle, whose blood would be splattered over the corners of the altar as a sin offering (Lev: 3-5).

As Jesus shed His blood in sacrifice for the forgiveness of sin, He became The Sacrifice. Thus St. John the Baptist called the Lord the Lamb of God.

Jesus continues eternally to offer Himself to the Father as THE sin offering for all time. He was and is the Lamb of God taking away all of sin.

“‘This is my body that is for you…’ ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes.’” (1 Cor 11:23-26)

Reflection and commentary

Psalm 25:16 “Look upon me, pity me, for I am alone and afflicted.”

St. Elizabeth Seton, d. 1821; raised Episcopalian; wife and mother of 10 children; foundress of the Sisters of Charity, the first congregation for women religious in the USA; first native-born U.S. citizen canonized (1975).