Texts taken from the Missal “On Your Word” May-June 2025
Nativity of Saint John the Baptist (s)
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FIRST READING
From the Book of the Prophet Isaiah (Is 49:1-6)
Listen to me, O islands, pay close attention, distant nations; the Lord called me from my mother’s womb, from my mother’s body he pronounced 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 placed me in his quiver. He said to me: “You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will manifest my glory.” But I said: “I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for nothing and in vain. Yet surely my right is with the Lord, my reward with my God.” 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 was my strength - and he said: “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, so that my salvation may reach the ends of the earth.” -
The Word of God.
Commentary on the first reading
The Old Testament prophet has a moment of discouragement: “I have labored in vain!” As if to say: I have spoken, but no one has listened to me, and my efforts have had no success. This can happen to all of us too when we see that, after painstakingly sowing, we have harvested nothing! Perhaps our children have drifted away from the faith, our loved ones have not been faithful to the Lord… But then the Lord intervenes and encourages his faithful servant, affirming that the prophet’s work will ultimately be effective and even exceed expectations. What God does not want is discouragement. He is the source of our courage, the strength behind our actions, which reach their fullness in weakness sustained by an unfailing faith. We will see the results when the Lord wills and as he wills. Let us therefore continue sowing tirelessly, trusting in divine grace. As an example: Blessed Elisabetta Canori Mora’s husband was unfaithful in their marriage; she always prayed for him, and after her death he converted and eventually became a priest.
SECOND READING
From the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 13:22-26)
In those days, [in the synagogue of Antioch of Pisidia,] Paul said: “God raised up David as king for our fathers, and he bore witness to him: ‘I have found David, son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will carry out all my wishes.’ From his descendants, according to the promise, God brought forth Jesus as savior for Israel. John had prepared his coming by proclaiming 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 behold, one is coming after me, whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.’ Brothers, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to us the word of this salvation has been sent.” – The word of God.
Commentary on the second reading
Paul is preaching to the Jews in the distant Antioch of Pisidia. The listeners still knew nothing about Christ, so the apostle, to meet them on familiar ground, begins with King David, saying that the Messiah would come from his lineage. He then informs them that the great prophet John, who was quite well known, had recognized the Messiah in Jesus of Nazareth. The Jews, therefore, should have accepted their testimony. Saint Paul connects his message to history and incontrovertible facts. Faith is needed to welcome the Lord, but faith is reasonable. No one is asking us to believe fairy tales, and this is useful for us too. Jesus is the culmination of the entire Old Testament: he had been foretold and announced. Why, then, not believe all these excellent witnesses? Saint Paul could have added that he too had been an unbelieving Pharisee, but that he later became convinced after having a direct experience of the risen Christ. The prophecies converge on Jesus, identifying him as Messiah, Lord, and Redeemer: the time has come to set aside all resistance and believe with confidence.
GOSPEL
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 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 intervened: “No, he will be called John.” They said to her: “There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name.” Then they made signs to his father, asking what he wanted him to be called. He asked for a tablet and wrote: “John is his name.” Everyone was amazed. Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue was freed, and he spoke, blessing God. All their neighbors were filled with fear, and throughout the hill country of Judea all these things were being discussed. All who heard them kept them in their hearts, saying: “What, then, will this child be?” And indeed, the hand of the Lord was with him. The child grew and became strong in spirit. He lived in the wilderness until the day of his manifestation to Israel. – The Word of the Lord.
Gospel Commentary
In the eyes of the world, the story of the birth of John the Baptist seems more extraordinary than that of Jesus. His elderly mother, beyond childbearing age, and his father, who remained mute and suddenly regained his speech... Jesus, on the other hand, was born to an ordinary mother (in people's eyes), and no one noticed his birth except for a small group of poor shepherds who were spending the night near the cave of the Nativity. Then there was Jesus' ordinary childhood, without any splendor, while John, barely of age (at twelve years old), left his father's house to live alone in terrible conditions in the desert, where even simple survival was a real problem. Quite rightly (in the eyes of the world), attention was focused on John rather than on our Lord. Yet the Baptist is merely a man, while Jesus is God. That is how things are: God reveals himself in hiddenness. Think of the Eucharist. The sign is very poor, a small piece of bread, but what it truly is is infinite. This happens so that we do not become attached to the sign, but enter into contact with reality through it. Signs are destined to disappear once they have fulfilled their function, while reality remains.
