Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the
Baptist
Mass during the Day
Lectionary: 587
Lectionary: 587
Hear me, O coastlands,
listen, O distant peoples.
The LORD called me from birth,
from my mother’s womb he gave me my name.
He made of me a sharp-edged sword
and concealed me in the shadow of his arm.
He made me a polished arrow,
in his quiver he hid me.
You are my servant, he said to me,
Israel, through whom I show my glory.
listen, O distant peoples.
The LORD called me from birth,
from my mother’s womb he gave me my name.
He made of me a sharp-edged sword
and concealed me in the shadow of his arm.
He made me a polished arrow,
in his quiver he hid me.
You are my servant, he said to me,
Israel, through whom I show my glory.
Though I thought I had toiled in
vain,
and for nothing, uselessly, spent my strength,
yet my reward is with the LORD,
my recompense is with my God.
For now the LORD has spoken
who formed me as his servant from the womb,
that Jacob may be brought back to him
and Israel gathered to him;
and I am made glorious in the sight of the LORD,
and my God is now my strength!
It is too little, he says, for you to be my servant,
to raise up the tribes of Jacob,
and restore the survivors of Israel;
I will make you a light to the nations,
that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.
and for nothing, uselessly, spent my strength,
yet my reward is with the LORD,
my recompense is with my God.
For now the LORD has spoken
who formed me as his servant from the womb,
that Jacob may be brought back to him
and Israel gathered to him;
and I am made glorious in the sight of the LORD,
and my God is now my strength!
It is too little, he says, for you to be my servant,
to raise up the tribes of Jacob,
and restore the survivors of Israel;
I will make you a light to the nations,
that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.
Responsorial Psalm139:1B-3, 13-14AB, 14C-15
R. (14) I praise you, for I am
wonderfully made.
O LORD, you have probed me, you know me:
you know when I sit and when I stand;
you understand my thoughts from afar.
My journeys and my rest you scrutinize,
with all my ways you are familiar.
R. I praise you for I am wonderfully made.
Truly you have formed my inmost being;
you knit me in my mother’s womb.
I give you thanks that I am fearfully, wonderfully made;
wonderful are your works.
R. I praise you, for I am wonderfully made.
My soul also you knew full well;
nor was my frame unknown to you
When I was made in secret,
when I was fashioned in the depths of the earth.
R. I praise you, for I am wonderfully made.
O LORD, you have probed me, you know me:
you know when I sit and when I stand;
you understand my thoughts from afar.
My journeys and my rest you scrutinize,
with all my ways you are familiar.
R. I praise you for I am wonderfully made.
Truly you have formed my inmost being;
you knit me in my mother’s womb.
I give you thanks that I am fearfully, wonderfully made;
wonderful are your works.
R. I praise you, for I am wonderfully made.
My soul also you knew full well;
nor was my frame unknown to you
When I was made in secret,
when I was fashioned in the depths of the earth.
R. I praise you, for I am wonderfully made.
Reading 2ACTS 13:22-26
In those days, Paul said:
“God raised up David as king;
of him God testified,
I have found David, son of Jesse, a man after my own heart;
he will carry out my every wish.
From this man’s descendants God, according to his promise,
has brought to Israel a savior, Jesus.
John heralded his coming by proclaiming a baptism of repentance
to all the people of Israel;
and as John was completing his course, he would say,
‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not he.
Behold, one is coming after me;
I am not worthy to unfasten the sandals of his feet.’
“God raised up David as king;
of him God testified,
I have found David, son of Jesse, a man after my own heart;
he will carry out my every wish.
From this man’s descendants God, according to his promise,
has brought to Israel a savior, Jesus.
John heralded his coming by proclaiming a baptism of repentance
to all the people of Israel;
and as John was completing his course, he would say,
‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not he.
Behold, one is coming after me;
I am not worthy to unfasten the sandals of his feet.’
“My brothers, sons of the family
of Abraham,
and those others among you who are God-fearing,
to us this word of salvation has been sent.”
and those others among you who are God-fearing,
to us this word of salvation has been sent.”
AlleluiaSEE LK 1:76
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
You, child, will be called prophet of the Most High,
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
You, child, will be called prophet of the Most High,
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GospelLK 1:57-66, 80
When the time arrived for
Elizabeth to have her child
she gave birth to a son.
Her neighbors and relatives heard
that the Lord had shown his great mercy toward her,
and they rejoiced with her.
When they came on the eighth day to circumcise the child,
they were going to call him Zechariah after his father,
but his mother said in reply,
“No. He will be called John.”
But they answered her,
“There is no one among your relatives who has this name.”
So they made signs, asking his father what he wished him to be called.
He asked for a tablet and wrote, “John is his name,”
and all were amazed.
Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed,
and he spoke blessing God.
Then fear came upon all their neighbors,
and all these matters were discussed
throughout the hill country of Judea.
All who heard these things took them to heart, saying,
“What, then, will this child be?”
For surely the hand of the Lord was with him.
The child grew and became strong in spirit,
and he was in the desert until the day
of his manifestation to Israel.
she gave birth to a son.
Her neighbors and relatives heard
that the Lord had shown his great mercy toward her,
and they rejoiced with her.
When they came on the eighth day to circumcise the child,
they were going to call him Zechariah after his father,
but his mother said in reply,
“No. He will be called John.”
But they answered her,
“There is no one among your relatives who has this name.”
So they made signs, asking his father what he wished him to be called.
He asked for a tablet and wrote, “John is his name,”
and all were amazed.
Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed,
and he spoke blessing God.
Then fear came upon all their neighbors,
and all these matters were discussed
throughout the hill country of Judea.
All who heard these things took them to heart, saying,
“What, then, will this child be?”
For surely the hand of the Lord was with him.
The child grew and became strong in spirit,
and he was in the desert until the day
of his manifestation to Israel.
Meditation: "The hand
of the Lord was with him"
Birthdays
are a special time to remember and give thanks for the blessings that have come
our way. Are you grateful for the ways that God has worked in your life, even
from your birth? In many churches of the East and West the birth of John the
Baptist is remembered on this day. The friends of Zechariah and Elizabeth
marveled at the wonderful way in which God blessed them with a child. This
child was destined by God for an important mission. The last verses in the last
book of the Old Testament, taken from the prophet Malachi, speak of the Lord’s
messenger, the prophet Elijah who will return to "turn the hearts of
fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers"
(Malachi 4:6).
Birth
and mission of John the Baptist
We see the beginning of the fulfillment of this word when the Angel Gabriel announced to Zechariah the marvelous birth and mission of John the Baptist (Luke 1:17). When this newly born child was about to be named, as customary on the eighth day, his relatives quibbled over what name to give him. (Don't relatives today often do the same when the time comes for naming a newborn?) This child, however has been named from above! And Elizabeth is firm in her faith and determined to see that God be glorified through this child. The name John means "the Lord is gracious". In the birth of John and in the birth of Jesus the Messiah we see the grace of God breaking forth into a world broken by sin and without hope. John’s miraculous birth shows the mercy and favor of God in preparing his people for the coming of their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
We see the beginning of the fulfillment of this word when the Angel Gabriel announced to Zechariah the marvelous birth and mission of John the Baptist (Luke 1:17). When this newly born child was about to be named, as customary on the eighth day, his relatives quibbled over what name to give him. (Don't relatives today often do the same when the time comes for naming a newborn?) This child, however has been named from above! And Elizabeth is firm in her faith and determined to see that God be glorified through this child. The name John means "the Lord is gracious". In the birth of John and in the birth of Jesus the Messiah we see the grace of God breaking forth into a world broken by sin and without hope. John’s miraculous birth shows the mercy and favor of God in preparing his people for the coming of their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
John
the Baptist's life was fueled by one burning passion - to point others to Jesus
Christ and to the coming of God's kingdom. Scripture tells us that John was
filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother's womb (Luke 1:15, 41) by
Christ himself, whom Mary had just conceived by the Holy Spirit. When Mary
visited her cousin Elizabeth, John leapt in the womb of Elizabeth as they were
filled with the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:41). The fire of the Spirit dwelt in John
and made him the forerunner of the coming Messiah. John was led by the Spirit
into the wilderness prior to his ministry where he was tested and grew in the
word of God. John's clothing was reminiscent of the prophet Elijah (see Kings
1:8).
John
broke the prophetic silence of the previous centuries when he began to speak
the word of God to the people of Israel. His message was similar to the message
of the Old Testament prophets who chided the people of God for their
unfaithfulness and who tried to awaken true repentance in them. Among a people
unconcerned with the things of God, it was his work to awaken their interest,
unsettle them from their complacency, and arouse in them enough good will to
recognize and receive Christ when he came.
God's
gracious gift to us
What is the significance of John the Baptist and his message for our lives? When God acts to save us he graciously fills us with his Holy Spirit and makes our faith come "alive" to his promises. Each and every day the Lord is ready to renew us in faith, hope, and love. Like John the Baptist, the Lord invites each of us to make our life a free-will offering to God. God wants to fill us with his glory all the days of our lives, from birth through death. Renew the offering of your life to God and give him thanks for his mercy and favor towards you.
What is the significance of John the Baptist and his message for our lives? When God acts to save us he graciously fills us with his Holy Spirit and makes our faith come "alive" to his promises. Each and every day the Lord is ready to renew us in faith, hope, and love. Like John the Baptist, the Lord invites each of us to make our life a free-will offering to God. God wants to fill us with his glory all the days of our lives, from birth through death. Renew the offering of your life to God and give him thanks for his mercy and favor towards you.
"Lord
Jesus, you bring hope and salvation to a world lost in sin, despair, and
suffering. Let your grace refresh and restore your people today in the hope and
joy of your great victory over sin and death."
Daily
Quote from the early church fathers: Parallels between John and Jesus,
by Ephrem the Syrian (306-373 AD)
"The
elderly Elizabeth gave birth to the last of the prophets, and Mary, a young girl,
to the Lord of the angels. The daughter of Aaron gave birth to the voice in the
desert (Isaiah 63:9), but the daughter of David to the strong God of the earth.
The barren one gave birth to him who remits sins, but the Virgin gave birth to
him who takes them away (John 1:29). Elizabeth gave birth to him who reconciled
people through repentance, but Mary gave birth to him who purified the lands of
uncleanness. The elder one lit a lamp in the house of Jacob, his father, for
this lamp itself was John (John 5:35), while the younger one lit the Sun of
Justice (Malachi 4:2) for all the nations. The angel announced to Zechariah, so
that the slain one would proclaim the crucified one and that the hated one
would proclaim the envied one. He who was to baptize with water would proclaim
him who would baptize with fire and with the Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:11). The
light, which was not obscure, would proclaim the Sun of Justice. The one filled
with the Spirit would proclaim concerning him who gives the Spirit. The priest
calling with the trumpet would proclaim concerning the one who is to come at
the sound of the trumpet at the end. The voice would proclaim concerning the
Word, and the one who saw the dove would proclaim concerning him upon whom the
dove rested, like the lightning before the thunder." (excerpt
from COMMENTARY ON TATIAN’S DIATESSARON 1.31)
SOLEMNITY OF THE NATIVITY OF SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24, LUKE 1:57-66, 80
(Isaiah 49:1-6; Psalm 139; Acts 13:22-26)
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24, LUKE 1:57-66, 80
(Isaiah 49:1-6; Psalm 139; Acts 13:22-26)
KEY VERSE: "And he was in the desert until the day of his manifestation to Israel" (v. 80).
TO KNOW: John was a member of a priestly family. His mother Elizabeth was a descendant of the family of Aaron, the first priest of Israel, and Zechariah was a practicing temple priest. While offering incense in the temple, an angle of the Lord appeared to Zechariah; hover, he doubted the angel's announcement of the forthcoming birth of a son (Lk 1:20), and he became mute. On the day of John's circumcision (a rite incorporating the child as a member of the people of Israel, Gn 17:9-12), Zechariah obeyed the angel's command by naming his son John meaning "Yahweh is gracious." Zechariah regained his voice and sang praises to God for having "visited his people with redemption" (v. 68). The people were amazed, wondering what would become of this favored child of God. For centuries, the voice of the prophets had been silent. That silence was broken with the proclamation of John the Baptist, the last and greatest of the prophets, who stood at the threshold between the Old and New Testament. The gospel tells us that John's mission was to prepare the way for the Lord.
TO LOVE: Do I use my tongue to offer praise to God?
TO SERVE: St. John the Baptist, pray that I might be a courageous witness to God's kingdom.
NOTE: The Nativity of John the Baptist
The Church commemorates the saints on the date of their deaths, or “heavenly birthdays.” The Nativity of John the Baptist is one of two exceptions in that it is the commemoration of the birth of the saint rather than the day of his death. The other exception is the Virgin Mary. As to the date of the birth of John the Baptist, nothing can be said with certainty. The Gospel suggests that he was born about six months before Christ; but the year of his nativity is also uncertain due to variations in calendars. The Church celebrates the birth of John the Baptist at the time of the year (June 24) when the day begins to grow shorter after the summer solstice, whereas the Nativity of Christ occurs (December 25) when the day begins to grow longer after the winter solstice. This is an embodiment of the words spoken by the Baptist, after the beginning of Christ's preaching: "He must increase, but I must decrease" (John 3:30).
Wednesday 24 June 2020
Birthday of John the Baptist
Isaiah 49:1-6. I praise you, for I am wonderfully made – Psalm
138(139):1-3, 13-15. Acts 13:22-26. Luke 1:57-66, 80.
‘The Lord has raised up for us a power for salvation’
John’s baptism means good news as it foreshadows Jesus’ birth
and his coming. John, the prophet and precursor to Jesus, is strong in Spirit
and we are told that the hand of the Lord was with him. While John baptises
with water, Jesus baptises with the Holy Spirit and fills us with a burning
desire to be close to Jesus and understand his ways.
Zechariah opens his heart to God so that God’s will becomes his
own will, and his will now God’s will. It is the beginning of a much more
personal and intimate relationship with God. The barrier that fear often
creates has disappeared, revealing a greater level of trust in Zechariah’s
heart that his will is God’s will too.
The Nativity of Saint John the Baptist
Saint of the Day for June 24
 |
| St. John the Baptist | Alessandro Rosi |
Saint John the Baptist’s Story
Jesus called John the greatest of all those who had preceded him:
“I tell you, among those born of women, no one is greater than John….” But John
would have agreed completely with what Jesus added: “[Y]et the least in the
kingdom of God is greater than he” (Luke 7:28).
John spent his time in the desert, an ascetic. He began to
announce the coming of the Kingdom, and to call everyone to a fundamental
reformation of life. His purpose was to prepare the way for Jesus. His baptism,
he said, was for repentance. But one would come who would baptize with the Holy
Spirit and fire. John was not worthy even to untie his sandals. His attitude
toward Jesus was: “He must increase; I must decrease” (John 3:30).
John was humbled to find among the crowd of sinners who came to
be baptized the one whom he already knew to be the Messiah. “I need to be
baptized by you” (Matthew 3:14b). But Jesus insisted, “Allow it now, for thus
it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness” (Matthew 3:15b). Jesus, true
and humble human as well as eternal God, was eager to do what was required of
any good Jew. Jesus thus publicly entered the community of those awaiting the
Messiah. But making himself part of that community, he made it truly messianic.
The greatness of John, his pivotal place in the history of
salvation, is seen in the great emphasis Luke gives to the announcement of his
birth and the event itself—both made prominently parallel to the same
occurrences in the life of Jesus. John attracted countless people to the banks
of the Jordan, and it occurred to some people that he might be the Messiah. But
he constantly deferred to Jesus, even to sending away some of his followers to
become the first disciples of Jesus.
Perhaps John’s idea of the coming of the Kingdom of God was not
being perfectly fulfilled in the public ministry of Jesus. For whatever reason,
when he was in prison he sent his disciples to ask Jesus if he was the Messiah.
Jesus’ answer showed that the Messiah was to be a figure like that of the
Suffering Servant in Isaiah. John himself would share in the pattern of
messianic suffering, losing his life to the revenge of Herodias.
Reflection
John challenges us Christians to the fundamental attitude of
Christianity—total dependence on the Father, in Christ. Except for the Mother
of God, no one had a higher function in the unfolding of salvation. Yet the
least in the kingdom, Jesus said, is greater than he, for the pure gift that
the Father gives. The attractiveness as well as the austerity of John, his
fierce courage in denouncing evil—all stem from his fundamental and total
placing of his life within the will of God.
Saint John the Baptist is the Patron Saint of:
Baptism
Lectio Divina:
Nativity of Saint John the Baptist
Lectio Divina
Wednesday, June 24, 2020
Birth of the Precursor of the Lord
1. Let us recollect ourselves in Prayer – Statio
Prayer of Cardinal Mercier to the Holy Spirit
Oh God, who has instructed Your faithful, enlightening their
hearts with the light of the Holy Spirit, grant us that in the same Spirit we
may have the desire to do good and to enjoy always His comfort.
May there be glory, adoration, love, and blessing to You Eternal
Divine Spirit, who has brought to earth for us the Savior of our souls. And may
there be glory and honor to His most adorable heart who loves us with an
infinite love.
Oh Holy Spirit, soul of my soul, I adore You: enlighten me,
guide me, strengthen me, console me, teach me what I should do, give me your
orders.
I promise to submit myself to all that will happen to me,
allowed by You: I ask only that I may know Your will.
2. Prayerful Reading of the Word - Lectio
From the Gospel according to Luke (1:57-66,80)
When the time arrived for Elizabeth to have her child she gave
birth to a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his
great mercy toward her, and they rejoiced with her. When they came on the
eighth day to circumcise the child, they were going to call him Zechariah after
his father, but his mother said in reply, "No. He will be called
John." But they answered her, "There is no one among your relatives
who has this name." So they made signs, asking his father what he wished
him to be called. He asked for a tablet and wrote, "John is his
name," and all were amazed. Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue
freed, and he spoke blessing God. Then fear came upon all their neighbors, and
all these matters were discussed throughout the hill country of Judea. All who
heard these things took them to heart, saying, "What, then, will this
child be?" For surely the hand of the Lord was with him. The child grew
and became strong in spirit, and he was in the desert until the day of his
manifestation to Israel.
3. Pondering the Word - Meditatio
3.1 Key to the Reading
This passage of the Gospel forms part of the account of
the infancy of Jesus. In a particular way this text follows the scene of the
visitation of Mary “in the house of Zechariah” (Lk 1:40) after the event of the
Annunciation by the Angel, the messenger of the new creation.
In fact, the Annunciation inaugurates, in a joyful way, the
fulfillment of God’s promise to His people (Lk 1:26-38). The joy of the new
times, which filled Mary, now inundates the heart of Elizabeth. She rejoices
with the announcement brought by Mary (Lk 1:41). Mary, on the other hand,
“magnifies the Lord” (Lk 1:46) because He has worked great things in her, just
as He has worked great marvels for His people in need of salvation.
The expression “the time came” reminds us that this reality does
not only strike Elizabeth who is about to give birth, but also reveals
something of God’s plan. In fact, Saint Paul tells us that when the completion
of the time came, God sent His Only Begotten Son “born of a woman, born a
subject of the Law, to redeem the subjects of the Law, so that we could receive
adoption as children” of God (Gal 4:4).
In the Gospel, Jesus speaks about the completion of times,
especially in the Gospel of John. Two of these times are the wedding at Cana
(Jn 2:1-12) and the agony on the cross where Jesus exclaims that “all is
fulfilled” (Jn 19:30). In the fulfillment of the times, Jesus inaugurates an
era of salvation. The birth of John the Baptist inaugurates this time of
salvation. In fact, at the arrival of the Messiah, he exults and leaps in the
womb of his mother, Elizabeth (Lk 1:44). Later on, he will define himself as
the friend of the bridegroom (Jesus) who exults and rejoices because of the
event of the wedding with the bride, the Church (Jn 3:29).
The son will not be named after his father Zechariah, but John.
Zechariah reminds us that God does not forget His people. In fact, his name
means “God remembers”. His son will now be called “God remembers”, because
God’s promises were being fulfilled. The prophetic mission of John has to
indicate God’s mercy. In fact, he will be called Johanan, which is “God is
mercy”. This mercy is manifested in the visit to the people, precisely “as he
had promised by the mouth of His holy prophets of ancient times” (Lk 1:67-70).
Thus, the name indicates the mission of the one about to be born. Zechariah
will write the name of his son on a tablet so that all could see with
admiration (Lk 1:63). This tablet is the echo of another inscription, written
by Pilate to be fixed on the cross of Jesus. This inscription revealed the
identity of the mission of the crucified: “Jesus, the Nazarene, King of the
Jews” (Jn 19:19). This writing also provoked the admiration of those who were in
Jerusalem for the feast.
John is the precursor of Jesus in everything. Since his birth
and childhood he points out to Christ. “Who will this child be? He is “the
voice which cries out in the desert” (Jn 1:23), impelling all to prepare the
way of the Lord. He is not the Messiah (Jn 1:20), but he indicates this with
his preaching, and above all, with his lifestyle of asceticism in the desert.
Meanwhile, the child grew up and his spirit grew strong. He lived in the desert
until the day he appeared openly to Israel” (Lk 1:80).
3.2 Questions to direct the meditation and the carrying out
- Do you or your community rejoice when God shows great mercy on
another in the community, or do you grumble or even ignore it?
- John identifies himself as the friend of the bridegroom.
According to you, what is the meaning of this image?
- John the Baptist is the one who prepares the way for the Lord.
How is this relevant in our daily life?
4. Oratio
Let us bless the Lord together with Zechariah (Lk 1:68-79)
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,
for He has visited His people, He has set them free,
and He has established for us a saving power
in the House of His servant David,
just as He proclaimed,
by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient times,
that He would save us from our enemies
and from the hands of all those who hate us,
and show faithful love to our ancestors,
and so keep in mind His holy covenant.
This was the oath He swore to our father Abraham,
that He would grant us, free from fear,
to be delivered from the hands of our enemies,
to serve Him in holiness and uprightness in His presence,
all our days.
And you, little child,
you shall be called prophet of the Most High,
for you will go before the Lord to prepare a way for Him,
to give His people knowledge of salvation
through the forgiveness of their sins,
because of the faithful love of our God
in which the daybreak on high will visit us,
to give light to those who live in darkness
and the shadow dark as death,
and to guide our feet into the way of peace.
for He has visited His people, He has set them free,
and He has established for us a saving power
in the House of His servant David,
just as He proclaimed,
by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient times,
that He would save us from our enemies
and from the hands of all those who hate us,
and show faithful love to our ancestors,
and so keep in mind His holy covenant.
This was the oath He swore to our father Abraham,
that He would grant us, free from fear,
to be delivered from the hands of our enemies,
to serve Him in holiness and uprightness in His presence,
all our days.
And you, little child,
you shall be called prophet of the Most High,
for you will go before the Lord to prepare a way for Him,
to give His people knowledge of salvation
through the forgiveness of their sins,
because of the faithful love of our God
in which the daybreak on high will visit us,
to give light to those who live in darkness
and the shadow dark as death,
and to guide our feet into the way of peace.
5. Contemplatio
Let us all together adore the mercy and the goodness of God
repeating in silence:
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen
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