We should love God because He is God, and the measure of our love should be to love Him without measure.
-- St Bernard
We should love God because He is God, and the measure of our love should be to love Him without measure.
-- St Bernard
Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist Vigil
Lectionary: 586
Reading I
JER 1:4-10
In the days of King Josiah, the word of the LORD came to me, saying:
Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
before you were born I dedicated you,
a prophet to the nations I appointed you.
“Ah, Lord GOD!” I said,
“I know not how to speak; I am too young.”
But the LORD answered me,
Say not, “I am too young.”
To whomever I send you, you shall go;
whatever I command you, you shall speak.
Have no fear before them,
because I am with you to deliver you, says the LORD.
Then the LORD extended his hand and touched my mouth, saying,
See, I place my words in your mouth!
This day I set you
over nations and over kingdoms,
to root up and to tear down,
to destroy and to demolish,
to build and to plant.
Responsorial Psalm 71:1-2, 3-4A, 5-6AB, 15AB AND 17
R. (6) Since my mother’s womb, you have been my strength.
In you, O LORD, I take refuge;
let me never be put to shame.
In your justice rescue me, and deliver me;
incline your ear to me, and save me.
R. Since my mother’s womb, you have been my strength.
Be my rock of refuge,
a stronghold to give me safety,
for you are my rock and my fortress.
O my God, rescue me from the hand of the wicked.
R. Since my mother’s womb, you have been my strength.
For you are my hope, O Lord;
my trust, O LORD, from my youth.
On you I depend from birth;
from my mother’s womb you are my strength.
R. Since my mother’s womb, you have been my strength.
My mouth shall declare your justice,
day by day your salvation.
O God, you have taught me from my youth,
and till the present I proclaim your wondrous deeds.
R. Since my mother’s womb, you have been my strength.
Reading II 1 PT 1:8-12
Beloved:
Although you have not seen Jesus Christ you love him;
even though you do not see him now yet believe in him,
you rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy,
as you attain the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
Concerning this salvation,
prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours
searched and investigated it,
investigating the time and circumstances
that the Spirit of Christ within them indicated
when he testified in advance
to the sufferings destined for Christ
and the glories to follow them.
It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you
with regard to the things that have now been announced to you
by those who preached the Good News to you
through the Holy Spirit sent from heaven,
things into which angels longed to look.
Alleluia
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
He came to testify to the light,
to prepare a people fit for the Lord.
R. Alleluia
Gospel LK 1:5-17
In the days of Herod, King of Judea,
there was a priest named Zechariah
of the priestly division of Abijah;
his wife was from the daughters of Aaron,
and her name was Elizabeth.
Both were righteous in the eyes of God,
observing all the commandments
and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly.
But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren
and both were advanced in years.
Once when he was serving
as priest in his division’s turn before God,
according to the practice of the priestly service,
he was chosen by lot
to enter the sanctuary of the Lord to burn incense.
Then, when the whole assembly of the people was praying outside
at the hour of the incense offering,
the angel of the Lord appeared to him,
standing at the right of the altar of incense.
Zechariah was troubled by what he saw, and fear came upon him.
But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah,
because your prayer has been heard.
Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son,
and you shall name him John.
And you will have joy and gladness,
and many will rejoice at his birth,
for he will be great in the sight of the Lord.
John will drink neither wine nor strong drink.
He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb,
and he will turn many of the children of Israel
to the Lord their God.
He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah
to turn their hearts toward their children
and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous,
to prepare a people fit for the Lord.”
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Birth of Saint John the Baptist
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. ~Luke 1:57–64
At the time of Saint John the Baptist’s birth, it was commonly thought that a woman’s inability to conceive was a sign of God’s disfavor and a punishment for sin. Although we know that’s not the case, it’s important to understand that God often brought forth great leaders from those who had long begged God for a child. Sarah was barren before conceiving Isaac. Rebekah was barren before giving birth to Esau and Jacob. Rachel was barren before giving birth to Joseph. Manoah’s wife was barren until she gave birth to Samson. And Hannah was barren until she gave birth to Samuel. Today’s solemnity celebrates one of the greatest births in history. Recall that Jesus himself would later say, “Amen, I say to you, among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist” (Matthew 11:11).
When Elizabeth conceived John the Baptist, she and her husband, Zechariah, “were advanced in years” (Luke 1:7). The announcement of the child’s birth came to Zechariah when he was chosen by lot from his priestly clan to enter the Temple sanctuary to burn incense to the Lord. This was among the highest honors of the Old Testament priests. While in the sanctuary, the Archangel Gabriel, who stands before God, appeared to him to announce the good news. Zechariah was told that his wife would not only conceive and bear a son, but that his son “will be great in the sight of the Lord…be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb…turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord…will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah…turn the hearts of fathers toward children…to prepare a people fit for the Lord” (Luke 1:15–17). This announcement of the birth of Saint John the Baptist was not only a joyous announcement, it was almost beyond belief. Zechariah certainly would have been sorrowful throughout his marriage that he had no children, and now an Archangel was telling him that his soon-to-be-conceived child would be great beyond belief. Of course, we know that Zechariah did, at first, disbelieve and was struck mute until John was born.
The next glorious chapter in the story of Saint John the Baptist came when that same Archangel, Gabriel, appeared to Mary, the Immaculate Conception, and announced that she would conceive the Savior of the World by the overshadowing of the Holy Spirit. After that announcement, Gabriel said to her, “And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God” (Luke 1:36–37). This reveals the fact that, in the Father’s plan of salvation, John’s mission was intimately connected to that of Jesus. This is further confirmed when Mary travels in haste to her cousin Elizabeth to help her in the final months of her pregnancy. At the sound of Mary’s greeting, the unborn infant, John, leaped for joy in Elizabeth’s womb. Of this event, Saint Thomas Aquinas teaches that John was sanctified in the womb at that moment, meaning he was freed from sin and prepared for his sacred mission of preparing the way for Jesus’ ministry. Saint Thomas even goes so far as to speculate about that moment of sanctification as follows: “Perhaps also in this child the use of reason and will was so far accelerated that while in his mother’s womb he was able to acknowledge, believe, and consent, whereas in other children we have to wait for these things till they grow older: this again I count as a miraculous result of the divine power” (Summa Theologica 3.27.6).
John’s birth, which we celebrate today, was surrounded by mystery, amazement, awe, and intrigue. The reaction to John’s birth is recorded this way by Saint Luke: “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” (Luke 1:65–66).
Other than the Solemnity of the Birth of Christ (Christmas), Saint John the Baptist is the only person whom the Church honors with a solemnity to celebrate his birth. Our Blessed Mother’s birth is celebrated with a feast, although her Immaculate Conception is commemorated with the greater honor of a solemnity. It is a great honor, indeed, to honor this unique man’s birth with the highest rank of celebration within our Church.
As we mark the birth of Saint John the Baptist, ponder this birthday from two perspectives. First, look at it from a Heavenly and eternal perspective. The angels and saints will forever glorify God for this great event and for the significant role that John played in the history of salvation. Second, look at it from a purely human perspective. Try to ponder the wonder and awe that would have enfolded Elizabeth and Zechariah. Consider their humanity. They were real people who became real parents and were told great things about their child. Despite that, John was still their child, just as Jesus was Mary’s Child. The proper perspective of every event we celebrate in salvation history is to unite the human and divine perspectives, the transcendent and the imminent, the personal and the supernatural, to more fully understand, participate in, and believe these glorious and historical events that have opened the gates of Heaven to all who have faith.
Prayer
Saint John the Baptist, you were conceived by God’s special grace and given to parents who were barren and advanced in years. Through your conception and birth, God spoke to the world that He can do anything He so chooses and bring forth His saving grace simply because He wills to do so. Please pray for me, that I will more fully understand the role you played in the history of salvation and be more open to all that God has revealed to the world through your holy life. Saint John the Baptist, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You. Amen.
God Bless You.....
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