Mass during the Day
Readings for the Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist[1][2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1 Isaiah 49:1-6
In this passage, the beginning of the second of the four “Servant of the Lord” oracles, the Prophet Isaiah speaks of his own call to service to God. Because this selection is used on the Solemnity of the Nativity of John the Baptist, we see in Isaiah’s words the calling to which John was beckoned.
Responsorial Psalm Psalm 139:1b-3, 13-14ab, 14c-15
R. I praise you for I am wonderfully made.
In support of the miracle of creation, Psalm 139 reminds us that like us St. John was formed and created in the womb as a gift from God to Elizabeth his mother. He came, known by God and God’s only Son.
Reading II Acts 13:22-26
St. Paul, speaking to Jews who were being called to deeper faith in Christ, reminds them that the prophecy that the Messiah would come from the lineage of King David had been fulfilled. He speaks of St. John the Baptist as the herald of that event by recounting his (St. John’s) prophetic speech on the occasion of Jesus’ baptism by John in the Jordan.
Gospel Luke 1:57-66, 80
We hear the angel’s announcement to Zachariah fulfilled in St. Luke’s account of the birth of St. John the Baptist. The naming of the child “John” broke tradition (according to the tradition of the day, the child should have been named after his father, Zachariah) and by acceding to the Archangel Gabriel’s announcement, we see the child set on a course directed by God and dedicated to him.
Reflection:
“What, then, will this child be?” This question is one that is always asked of parents, relatives, and friends at the birth of a new baby. Will he take after his father? Will he go into the family business? St. John was told by his father when he was less than a day old. Notice the Gospel jumps from verse 66 to verse 80. The intervening verses constitute the Canticle of Zachariah. The last part of St. John’s father’s blessing is;
“And you, child, will be called prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give his people knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God by which the daybreak from on high will visit us to shine on those who sit in darkness and death's shadow, to guide our feet into the path of peace." (Luke 1:76-79)
The little baby was destined to be like the great Prophet Isaiah. How similar were their beginnings as we heard:
“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.” (Isaiah 49: 1b-2a)
We know that like Jesus, St. John’s early childhood through adolescence and early adulthood were hidden from history. We hear that at some point he was “revealed” to the people. When the time was right, he suddenly appeared out of the desert calling the people once more to repentance.
We wonder which of us will be next. Who has been called in a special way and is just biding time until they will be revealed as strong with the spirit and great in the eyes of the Lord? Which of us who carries the light of Christ into the world will emerge from darkness and be a herald of Him who promised to return on the last day?
We rejoice on the day we celebrate the nativity of St. John who preceded Christ in all things. Like his cousin, Jesus, his example of fearless faith and bold proclamation inspires us to take up his call as a light hope for “those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death and to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
[1] After Links Expire
[2] The picture used today is “Birth of St. John the Baptist” by Tintoretto, 1563
Readings for the Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist[1][2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1 Isaiah 49:1-6
In this passage, the beginning of the second of the four “Servant of the Lord” oracles, the Prophet Isaiah speaks of his own call to service to God. Because this selection is used on the Solemnity of the Nativity of John the Baptist, we see in Isaiah’s words the calling to which John was beckoned.
Responsorial Psalm Psalm 139:1b-3, 13-14ab, 14c-15
R. I praise you for I am wonderfully made.
In support of the miracle of creation, Psalm 139 reminds us that like us St. John was formed and created in the womb as a gift from God to Elizabeth his mother. He came, known by God and God’s only Son.
Reading II Acts 13:22-26
St. Paul, speaking to Jews who were being called to deeper faith in Christ, reminds them that the prophecy that the Messiah would come from the lineage of King David had been fulfilled. He speaks of St. John the Baptist as the herald of that event by recounting his (St. John’s) prophetic speech on the occasion of Jesus’ baptism by John in the Jordan.
Gospel Luke 1:57-66, 80
We hear the angel’s announcement to Zachariah fulfilled in St. Luke’s account of the birth of St. John the Baptist. The naming of the child “John” broke tradition (according to the tradition of the day, the child should have been named after his father, Zachariah) and by acceding to the Archangel Gabriel’s announcement, we see the child set on a course directed by God and dedicated to him.
Reflection:
“What, then, will this child be?” This question is one that is always asked of parents, relatives, and friends at the birth of a new baby. Will he take after his father? Will he go into the family business? St. John was told by his father when he was less than a day old. Notice the Gospel jumps from verse 66 to verse 80. The intervening verses constitute the Canticle of Zachariah. The last part of St. John’s father’s blessing is;
“And you, child, will be called prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give his people knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God by which the daybreak from on high will visit us to shine on those who sit in darkness and death's shadow, to guide our feet into the path of peace." (Luke 1:76-79)
The little baby was destined to be like the great Prophet Isaiah. How similar were their beginnings as we heard:
“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.” (Isaiah 49: 1b-2a)
We know that like Jesus, St. John’s early childhood through adolescence and early adulthood were hidden from history. We hear that at some point he was “revealed” to the people. When the time was right, he suddenly appeared out of the desert calling the people once more to repentance.
We wonder which of us will be next. Who has been called in a special way and is just biding time until they will be revealed as strong with the spirit and great in the eyes of the Lord? Which of us who carries the light of Christ into the world will emerge from darkness and be a herald of Him who promised to return on the last day?
We rejoice on the day we celebrate the nativity of St. John who preceded Christ in all things. Like his cousin, Jesus, his example of fearless faith and bold proclamation inspires us to take up his call as a light hope for “those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death and to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
[1] After Links Expire
[2] The picture used today is “Birth of St. John the Baptist” by Tintoretto, 1563
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