PRAYER: “O GOD, WHO RAISED SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST TO MAKE READY A NATION FIT FOR CHRIST THE LORD, GIVE YOUR PEOPLE, WE PRAY, THE GRACE OF SPIRITUAL JOYS AND DIRECT THE HEARTS OF ALL THE FAITHFUL INTO THE WAY OF SALVATION AND PEACE. THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, YOUR SON, WHO LIVES AND REIGNS WITH YOU IN THE UNITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, GOD, FOR EVER AND EVER. AMEN”.
Is 49:1-6; Ps 138:1-3,13 15; Acts 13:22-26 and Lk 1:57-66,80.
The first and second readings proclaim that God formed John as His servant from his mother’s womb, who would herald Jesus’ coming. In the portion of the Gospel of Luke, we are told the mysteries surrounding the birth of John. At his birth, fear comes upon all the Judean hill-folk and they ask: “What, then, will the child be?”. Surely, the hand of the Lord is with him.
John the Baptist is a great prophet and in fact, there is no prophet greater than John. Jesus himself testified to this fact. His name (JOHN) means “God is gracious”. God is kind, generous and merciful. In his graciousness, kindness, generosity and mercy, God, through the birth of John to prepare the way for Jesus the Messiah, broke forth into a world broken by sin. This world broken by sin needed amendment, reconciliation, and a fresh or new beginning. Again, in his graciousness, kindness and mercy, God initiated this new beginning and reconciliation of the sinful and broken world. In fact, the birth of John was a fresh and new beginning for his parents, Zechariah and Elizabeth. They received John their son as a favour and as God’s generous and kind gift in their old age.
John the Baptist played a tremendous and significant role in the history of humankind’s salvation. Filled with the Holy Spirit right from his mother’s womb, John prepared the way for the Saviour, our Messiah, Jesus Christ. John’s role was crucial in the process of the reconciliation of sinful or fallen humankind to God.
The world continues to be broken by the sin of humanity and therefore we continue to require God’s graciousness, kindness, mercy and forgiveness. We still need reconciliation to God our Maker and with fellow human beings. There is a dire need for John the Baptists of our time and age to initiate the process of this reconciliation. All Christians, by virtue of our baptism and confirmation, are called to be the ‘John the Baptists’ of our age and time.
John the Baptist was able to play his roles as a herald, forerunner, pathfinder, and precursor because of his great virtues and qualities. He was one filled with the Holy Spirit, right from his conception. He was ready to sacrifice his comfort and life for the salvation of sinful humanity. He was full of humility as he told the people that he was not the expected Messiah. He was truthful and honest. He was fearless, brave and bold. He showed or pointed out to people the way to salvation. As John the Baptists of our contemporary time, we need these virtues to play our roles in the world that is broken by sin and which needs to be saved.
May St. John the Baptist intercede for us and help us to always stand firm for and by the truth, fight evil and sin, wrong teachings and doctrines, corruption, bribery and injustices in the world and point the way of God’s salvation to others. Stay blessed and Happy Feast of the Nativity of John the Baptist.
WE MEDITATE TODAY, WEDNESDAY, ON THE GLORIOUS MYSTERIES: ‘THE RESURRECTION, THE ASCENSION, THE DESCENT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, THE ASSUMPTION, AND THE CORRONATION’. (WE PRAY FAITH, HOPE, LOVE OF GOD, GRACE OF A HAPPY DEATH AND TRUST IN MARY’S INTERCESSION) “Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you, blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb Jesus: Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us, sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen”.
PRAYER: “HAVING FEASTED AT THE BANQUET OF THE HEAVENLY LAMB, WE PRAY, O LORD, THAT, FINDING JOY IN THE NATIVITY OF SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST, YOUR CHURCH MAY KNOW AS THE AUTHOR OF HER REBIRTH THE CHRIST WHOSE COMING JOHN FORETOLD. THROUGH CHRIST OUR LORD. AMEN.”
Rev. Fr. Aloysius Kpiebaya, Catholic Diocese of Wa, UW/R, Ghana. (00233) 0207867239/0545462863. Email: aloybaya20@yahoo.com.
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