Today the liturgy celebrates the solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist. He is the only saint - with the exception of the Mother of the Lord - whose birth according to the flesh is celebrated, and celebrated solemnly (rather than only his birth into heaven, as happens with all the other saints). In this way, the Church invites us to reflect on a beautiful truth: the birth of John is the Β«proofΒ» that God is present, that God is still among his people. Let us look to Saint John the Baptist as a model of a disciple and missionary; a model of a man in love with the truth, who knew how to make himself small, struggling for the truth and setting aside his ego to make room for God's love.
Nativity of Saint John the Baptist (s)
proper
Texts taken from the Missal βSulla Tua Parolaβ May-June 2021
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: Β«Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you came to birth I consecrated you; I appointed you prophet to the nationsΒ». I replied: Β«Ah, Lord God! Look, I do not know how to speak, because I am youngΒ». But the Lord said to me: Β«Do not say: βI am youngβ. You must go to all those to whom I send you and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, because I am with you to protect youΒ». The oracle of the Lord. The Lord stretched out his hand and touched my mouth, and the Lord said to me: Β«Look, I have put my words into your mouth. See, today I appoint you over nations and over kingdoms to uproot and to tear down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plantΒ».
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 indescribable and glorious joy as you attain the goal of your faith: the salvation of souls. Concerning this salvation, the prophets searched and investigated, who foretold the grace intended for you; they sought to know the time or circumstances indicated by the Spirit of Christ within them, when he foretold 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 regard to the things now announced to you through those who brought you the Gospel by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven: things into which angels long to look.
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 division of Abijah; he had a wife from the descendants of Aaron, named 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. Now while Zechariah was serving as priest before the Lord during the turn of his division, he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of priestly service, to enter the temple of the Lord to offer incense. Outside, the whole assembly of the people was praying at the hour of incense. An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was troubled and fear came upon him. But the angel said to him: Β«Do not be afraid, Zechariah, your prayer has been heard and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John. You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, because he will be great before the Lord; he will drink no wine or strong drink, he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother's womb and he will bring back many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. He will go before him with the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of fathers toward their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous and to prepare for the Lord a people ready for himΒ».-
The word of the Lord.
MASS OF THE DAY
FIRST READING
From the book of the prophet Isaiah (Is 49:1-6)
Listen to me, O islands; pay attention, distant nations. 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; he hid me in the shadow of his hand; he made me a sharpened arrow; he concealed me in his quiver. He said to me: Β«You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will manifest my gloryΒ». But I said: Β«I have toiled in vain, and for nothing and in vain spent my strength. Yet surely my right is with the Lord, my reward with my GodΒ». And now the Lord has spoken, he who formed me as his servant from the womb, to bring Jacob back to him and gather Israel to him - for I was honored in the eyes of the Lord, and my God has been my strength - and he said: Β«It is not enough 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, so that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earthΒ».
Commentary on the first reading
In the passage from the prophet Isaiah proposed in the Mass of the day, we find a description of a servant of God whom the Lord makes a light to the nations, because through his word he will announce salvation to all peoples: today's liturgy applies these words to the person of the Baptist. This prophetic calling may seem extraordinary to us, reserved only for a few chosen people. We always tend to regard the saints as exceptional people, very different from us, yet this is not so. If we look closely at their lives, we will see how they are often marked by the same fears and insecurities, limitations and frailties that mark our own. The saints, however, managed to make room for the life of God within them, allowing it to become the center and meaning of their whole existence. Only if we become capable of always putting God first - and in every situation - can God's life flow through us, reaching our brothers and sisters and thus becoming an instrument of salvation for others: ultimately, holiness consists entirely in this.
SECOND READING
From the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 13:22-26)
In those days, [in the synagogue of Antioch in Pisidia,] Paul said: Β«God raised up David as king for our ancestors, of whom he testified: βI have found David, son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will carry out all my wishesβ. From his descendants, according to the promise, God brought to Israel a savior, Jesus. John had prepared his coming by proclaiming a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. As John was coming to the end of his mission, he said: βI am not the one you think I am! But look, one is coming after me, and I am not worthy to unfasten the sandals on his feetβ. Brothers, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, this message of salvation has been sent to usΒ».
Commentary on the second reading
The Acts of the Apostles presents us with a passage from Paul's preaching during his first missionary journey: summarizing the history of salvation, when he speaks of Jesus he mentions the mission carried out by John the Baptist, calling the people of Israel to conversion so that they could welcome the Messiah. What the angel had foretold about John, he truly accomplished: he prepared the coming of Jesus. John was a great prophet because he did not seek his own glory, but God's. By adopting this attitude of becoming less so that Christ could increase, he prepared the way for Jesus. John's great glory, therefore, is that he was a prophet not only in words, but in his flesh: through his life he prepared the way for Jesus. Let us ask the Lord for the grace of the humility John possessed, and not to take upon ourselves the merits or glories of others. Above all, let us ask for the grace that in our lives there will always be room for Jesus to grow and for us to decrease, until the end.
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 gave birth to a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her his great mercy, and they rejoiced with her. Eight days later they came to circumcise the child, and they wanted to name him after his father, Zechariah. But his mother spoke up: Β«No, he will be called JohnΒ». They said to her: Β«There is no one among your relatives who has this nameΒ». Then they made signs to his father, asking what he wanted him to be called. He asked for a writing tablet and wrote: Β«John is his nameΒ». And they were all amazed. Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue was freed, and he began to speak, blessing God. All their neighbors were filled with fear, and throughout the hill country of Judea all these things were discussed. All who heard them kept them in their hearts, saying: Β«What, then, will this child be?Β». And indeed the hand of the Lord was with him. The child grew and became strong in spirit. He lived in the desert regions until the day of his manifestation to Israel.
Commentary on the Gospel of the day
The evangelist Luke focuses on the events surrounding the birth of John the Baptist, establishing a precise parallel with the accounts of Jesus' childhood. In particular, the giving of his name: not the expected name of his father, namely Zechariah, but the unusual name John, which means Β«God shows graceΒ» or Β«God grants mercyΒ». John therefore tells us that God enters each person's life, shows us grace, and gives us his mercy in the concrete circumstances of our history. As with Zechariah and Elizabeth, who were old and barren. As with this child, who would become a courageous prophet unto death in bearing witness to Jesus Christ, and at the same time humble enough to know how to step aside. John wants only for Christ to be at the center of attention. He embodies the ideal of a life entirely spent for the sake of Christ, giving nothing to other purposes and seeking no personal success. Like the Baptist, we too are called to take a step back so that the Master may grow, leaving all the space to his action. Let us look to this great saint as a model of a disciple, of one in love with the truth, who knew how to make himself small and set aside his βegoβ to make room for God's love and become conformed to his Son Jesus.
