THE NATIVITY OF SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST ( SOLEMNITY)

1st Reading         Isaiah 49:1-6

Psalm          Ps. 139: 1-3.13-14.15 (R. 14a) 

2nd Reading        Acts 13: 22-26

Gospel                   Luke 1: 57-66.80

Dear friends, today we celebrate the Solemnity of St. John the Baptist. This celebration, with the personality of John the Baptist, is so important in the recounting of the Salvation History of Man. In this case, we take turn to reflect and be grateful to God for his saving work so as to sanctify our future for the reason that our glorification is itself a means for our sanctification. 

With John the Baptist we notice an entrance into the second half of the Salvation history of man for which with his birth, the redeemer will be announced. This celebration, therefore includes the soon birth of Christ. In fact, this kind of relation is further stressed by the very fact that John the Baptist and Jesus are cousins. 

Today's first reading, as excerpted from the second song of the servant of the Lord in Isaiah, speaks of a servant who presents himself as a prophet and whose word carries God's own power. We hear of the servant to have been set aside for a particular purpose even before birth (v. 1). With him, there will be a restoration of Jerusalem and Israel shall rejoice at the joyful return of exile from Babylon. This is the restoration of the survivors of Israel (v. 6). Apparently, we see that this text finds fulfillment in Christ. For a fact, this servant is too be identified as an Israelite. 

The Gospel narrates the birth of John the Baptist with a mysterious event culminating in the glorification of God. This occurred at the naming ceremony of John. This act of glorification is also expressed by Zechariah in the Benedictus (Lk. 1: 68-79) which is often recited daily in the Morning Prayers (lauds).

Scripture often tells of specific names to be given to people often set in the salvation history. Elizabeth's insistence and Zechariah's confirmation of the Child's name name as John tend to secure God's plan of gracious redemption. John means God is gracious or God has shown favour. 

This is the favour of the Lord not only to the parents who longed for a child and were rewarded even in their old age like Abraham and Sarah but also to humanity at large. John's birth positioned in a meteorological moment in which darkness was increasing serves to be pedagogical as he will be seen pointing out the Light while speaking of himself as not the Messiah. He is only a forerunner of Christ. 

With this important event we learn to cultivate a spirit of gratitude for God's saving work and like John the Baptist be able, in word and deed, to point out the Messiah to all. This will constitute a beginning of our missionary work. 

With Elizabeth and Zechariah we learn to hope and trust that at God's appointed time all things will work together for our good. Nothing happens by Chance. Everything is ordered to occur according to God's plan. 

Pax et Bonum