Texts taken from the Missal “On Your Word” May-June 2022

Nativity of Saint John the Baptist (feast)
proper

At the Vigil Evening Mass

FIRST READING

From the book of the prophet Jeremiah (Jer 1:4-10)
In the days of King Josiah, the word of the Lord came to me: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you came to birth I consecrated you; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” I replied: “Ah, Lord God! Look, I do not know how to speak, because I am young.” But the Lord said to me: “Do not say: ‘I am young.’ You shall go to all those to whom I send you and say everything that I command you. Do not be afraid of them, because I am with you to protect you.” It is the oracle of the Lord. Then the Lord stretched out his hand and touched my mouth, and the Lord said to me: “Look, I am putting my words into your mouth. See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and to tear down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.” – The word of God.

SECOND READING

From the first letter of Saint Peter the apostle (1 Pt 1:8-12)
Beloved, although you have not seen Jesus Christ, you love him; and without seeing him now, you believe in him. Therefore you rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy as you attain the goal of your faith: the salvation of souls. Concerning this salvation, the prophets searched and examined carefully; they foretold the grace destined for you, seeking to know the time or circumstances indicated by the Spirit of Christ within them when he predicted the sufferings destined for Christ and the glories that would follow. It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you in the things now announced to you by those who brought you the Gospel through the Holy Spirit sent from heaven: things into which angels long to gaze. – The word of God.

GOSPEL OF THE DAY

From the Gospel according to Luke (Lk 1:5-17)
In the time of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the priestly division of Abijah. His wife was a descendant of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. Both were righteous before God and observed all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly. But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years. Once, when Zechariah was serving as priest before God during his division’s turn, he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of priestly service, to enter the sanctuary of the Lord to offer incense. The whole assembly of the people was praying outside at the hour of incense. Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was troubled and fear came upon him. But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall name him John. You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He must never drink wine or strong drink; even before his birth he will be filled with the Holy Spirit. He will turn many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. With the spirit and power of Elijah he will go before him, to turn the hearts of fathers toward their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” – The word of the Lord.

At the Mass of the Day

FIRST READING

From the book of the prophet Isaiah (Is 49:1-6)

Listen to me, O coastlands, pay attention, distant peoples. The Lord called me from the womb; from my mother’s womb he gave me my name. He made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me a polished arrow; in his quiver he hid me away. He said to me: “You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will display my glory.” But I said: “I have labored in vain; I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity. Yet surely my right is with the Lord, and my recompense is with my God.” And now the Lord says, who formed me from the womb as his servant, to bring Jacob back to him and gather Israel to him - for I am honored in the sight of the Lord, and my God has become my strength - he says: “It is too little for you to be my servant, to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back the survivors of Israel. I will make you a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.” – The word of God.

Commentary on the first reading

God calls all people to salvation, but he chooses some to proclaim his message. Therefore, no one has the right to say that they are incapable, unworthy, or inadequate for this vocation, because he knows how to make what is barren fruitful and open the mouths of the mute. Often, awareness of our sin and misery makes us doubt God. Yet he chooses precisely those people who, humanly speaking, seem least suited to manifest his power. John the forerunner is the image of those who make themselves available to God’s plans without imposing any conditions. The passage from the second song of the Lord’s servant, which is usually applied to the Lord who died and rose again, is read today in relation to the Baptist’s mission: called from his mother’s womb - as the meeting between the Virgin and Elizabeth recalls - and chosen to bring the people back to the Lord. The path of conversion proposed by the Baptist is precisely in view of the Messiah’s coming. John came as a lamp to prepare everyone for the true light: Jesus Christ.

SECOND READING

From the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 13:22-26)
In those days, [in the synagogue of Antioch in Pisidia,] Paul said: “God raised up David as king for our ancestors, of whom he testified: ‘I have found David, son of Jesse, a man after my heart; he will carry out all my wishes.’ From this man’s descendants, according to the promise, God brought Israel a savior, Jesus. Before his coming, John had proclaimed a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. As John was completing his mission, he said: ‘I am not the one you think I am! But look, one is coming after me, and I am not worthy to untie the sandals on his feet.’ Brothers, descendants of Abraham, and all among you who fear God, to us this word of salvation has been sent.” – The word of God.

Commentary on the second reading

Paul’s catechesis in the synagogue of Antioch seeks to open the hearts of those listening to faith in Jesus Christ, the true descendant of David, the Messiah. He again recalls the Forerunner’s preparatory role to emphasize that salvation has arrived, leaving those who listen to choose whether to accept or reject it. Indeed, the mission of John the Baptist is understood in relation to that of Jesus. He must proclaim a baptism of penance and conversion: there can be no grace of the new life that Jesus Christ offers with love and power unless we have first experienced the grace of repentance for our sins. For this reason, the Forerunner hastens to warn those listening that he is simply a voice, one who prepares for fullness, and that Another will have to proclaim it in his place. John’s greatness, ultimately, lies precisely in this: he knows what his role is and also knows that, at the proper time, he must step aside to allow the light of the world, Jesus Christ, to shine in all its splendor and bring the fulfillment of salvation, which John merely anticipated.

GOSPEL OF THE DAY

From the Gospel according to Luke (Lk 1:57-66, 80)
The time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they rejoiced with her. On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they wanted to name him after his father, Zechariah. But his mother spoke up: “No, he will be called John.” They said to her: “None of your relatives has this name.” Then they made signs to his father, asking what he wanted him to be called. He asked for a writing tablet and wrote: “John is his name.” And all were amazed. Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue was freed, and he began to speak, praising God. Fear came upon all their neighbors, and throughout the hill country of Judea all these things were talked about. All who heard them kept them in their hearts, saying: “What, then, will this child become?” For surely the hand of the Lord was with him. The child grew and became strong in spirit. And he lived in the wilderness until the day of his manifestation to Israel. – The word of the Lord.

Commentary on the Gospel of the day

The birth of the Baptist is accompanied by extraordinary events that show how he is called to a particular mission: the Lord will use him, his words, and his martyrdom to speak to the people and enable them to prepare their hearts for the coming of the promised Messiah. The evangelist Luke uses a truly significant expression: the hand of the Lord was with him. This means that God himself led John into the wilderness and shaped him through the harshness of solitude and the attention he gave to his word: he was aware that his mission was so important that he needed to remain in silence and prayer to prepare himself to carry it out. For this reason, John the Baptist is an imperishable model of total self-giving to God and to the cause of his Kingdom, a man completely devoted to God. The Baptist understood that his entire life had to be preparation for the coming of the Bridegroom, and he spent every moment pointing to the Light that was to illuminate all peoples. Today’s solemn liturgy invites us to take him as a model for our Christian life and to learn from him to point out the Lamb of God to the world.