Sunday, June 24, 2018
TODAY'S REFLECTION - THE NATIVITY OF JOHN THE BAPTIST
Is 49:1-6/Ps 138:1-3,13-15/Acts 13:22-26/ Lk 1:57-66,80
GOD HAS PLANS FOR US
Beloved, Holy Mother Church marks the birthday of John the Baptist according to our liturgical calendar today. John is the shorter form of the name Jehohanan, which means, " "Jehovah's gift" or "God is gracious". Our today's Gospel reading talks about the birth, circumcision and naming ceremony of John the Baptist. His birth is seen as God's merciful, generous and faithful intervention, in the lives of Elizabeth and Zechariah. This teaches us that God is capable of turning our humanly barren, lifeless, hopeless, meaningless, useless and impossible situations into fruition at his own time. His birth brought joy to many. It made Zechariah to sing the "Benedictus ( Luke 1:67-80). The conception and successful delivery of every baby should bring great joy to us. John the Baptist, the Precursor and friend of the Bridegroom, helps us to prepare the way for the Lord and to make his path straight ( Isaiah 40:3). He teaches us the spirit of humility. He says, I (John) must decrease and he (Jesus) must increase. That he (John) is not fit to carry Jesus' sandals (John 3:30). He spoke the truth with courage and without fear (Matthew 14:4, Mark 6:).
In our today's first reading, the prophet Isaiah gives us the assurance that God uses humble and simple people, by his own gratuitous love, to achieve wonderful things, not counting on their merits or qualities. Some biblical personalities were destined to carry out a great mission, according to God's plan, even in their mothers' wombs (Jeremiah 1:15, Galatians 1:15, Luke 1:15). The people of Israel, even during their slavery in Egypt, their journey in the desert and their years in exile were destined for greatness, despite the challenges. The Lord says, "I will make you a light to the nations that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth" ( Isaiah 49:6). We are each called in one way or the other, to receive Christ's light and salvation and to share with others.
Friends, in our today's second reading, we are presented with parts of St. Paul's sermon in the synagogue at Antioch in Pisidia. He talked about how God worked wonders in the lives of the people of Israel. He touched on how God sent John the Baptist to prepare the way for Christ and also to preach the Baptism of repentance. This was to fulfil God's promises.
Let us pray for the grace to be filled with joy and happiness. We also pray for God's will to be done in our lives. BE BLESSED.
Fr. Gaa (0206854323/0240308878)