Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist: Vigil Mass
Lectionary: 586
Reading 1JER 1:4-10
In the days of King Josiah, the word of the LORD came to me, saying:
Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
before you were born I dedicated you,
a prophet to the nations I appointed you.
This is a very appropriate verse for the nativity of St. John the Baptist. Remember that before he was born, God had foretold his conception by the Angel Gabriel to his father, Zechariah in the temple.
In the same way, God is reminding Jeremiah that he was appointed a prophet of God while in the womb. This goes to the Catholic Teaching of predestination. A teaching which is very hard to understand but should never be twisted to mean that God sets people aside to hell from their conception. God wills that all men be saved and come to the knowledge of Truth (1 Timothy 2:4).
“Ah, Lord GOD!” I said,
“I know not how to speak; I am too young.”
But the LORD answered me,
Say not, “I am too young.”
To whomever I send you, you shall go;
whatever I command you, you shall speak.
Have no fear before them,
because I am with you to deliver you, says the LORD.
Like Moses, Jeremiah also was concerned about his weaknesses. Moses, when God spoke to him, objected that he was a poor speaker. Jeremiah objects that he is too young. Both perhaps, afraid of failure. But God appoints us to succeed in failure. Did you not notice that Jesus Christ was tortured and crucified? Only those who believe in Him consider this a victory. The rest of the world considers it foolishness.
Then the LORD extended his hand and touched my mouth, saying,
See, I place my words in your mouth!
This day I set you
over nations and over kingdoms,
to root up and to tear down,
to destroy and to demolish,
to build and to plant.
This was also the mission given to St. John. And he did it so well that many people mistook him for the Messiah of God. Jesus spoke well when He said of St. John:
Matthew 11:11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist:….
Responsorial PsalmPS 71:1-2, 3-4A, 5-6AB, 15AB AND 17
R. (6) Since my mother’s womb, you have been my strength.
In you, O LORD, I take refuge;
let me never be put to shame.
In your justice rescue me, and deliver me;
incline your ear to me, and save me.
R. Since my mother’s womb, you have been my strength.
Be my rock of refuge,
a stronghold to give me safety,
for you are my rock and my fortress.
O my God, rescue me from the hand of the wicked.
R. Since my mother’s womb, you have been my strength.
For you are my hope, O LORD;
my trust, O LORD, from my youth.
On you I depend from birth;
from my mother’s womb you are my strength.
R. Since my mother’s womb, you have been my strength.
My mouth shall declare your justice,
day by day your salvation.
O God, you have taught me from my youth,
and till the present I proclaim your wondrous deeds.
R. Since my mother’s womb, you have been my strength.
This psalm teaches us that everything which the Saints receive, belongs to us as well. God knows us from the time we are conceived. He knits us in our mother's womb. And we each have a purpose. That purpose is not unknown to us. It is to do good to neighbor and love God by doing so. Each and everyone of us is like Jeremiah. Each and everyone of us is like St. John the Baptist. God made us in His image in order that we may do His will and accomplish His works. That is why the Scripture says:
Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
We were created by God to walk in His works. We were created to keep God's Commands.
Reading 21 PT 1:8-12
Beloved: Although you have not seen Jesus Christ you love him; even though you do not see him now yet believe in him, you rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, as you attain the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
We have not seen and do not see Jesus Christ with our eyes of flesh. But by the eyes of faith nourished by the preaching of the Church and the love of our fathers, we see Jesus Christ as though He were standing right next to us. And He truly is. He will never abandon us and will always sustain us.Concerning this salvation, prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and investigated it, investigating the time and circumstances that the Spirit of Christ within them indicated when he testified in advance to the sufferings destined for Christ and the glories to follow them. It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you with regard to the things that have now been announced to you by those who preached the Good News to you through the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels longed to look.
Those holy men who received the knowledge of Christ and His Gospel were told by the Holy Spirit that they were learning these things in order to serve the people which God chose for Himself for salvation. Today, the Church serves that function and remains the servant of all who seek to be saved in Christ.
GospelLK 1:5-17
In the days of Herod, King of Judea,
there was a priest named Zechariah
of the priestly division of Abijah;
his wife was from the daughters of Aaron,
and her name was Elizabeth.
Both were righteous in the eyes of God,
observing all the commandments
and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly.
In the days of Herod, the priest Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth were righteous people in the eyes of God.
But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren and both were advanced in years.
But they had not had any children. In those days, this was looked upon as a curse from God.
Once when he was serving
as priest in his division’s turn before God,
according to the practice of the priestly service,
he was chosen by lot
to enter the sanctuary of the Lord to burn incense.
Then, when the whole assembly of the people was praying outside
at the hour of the incense offering,
the angel of the Lord appeared to him,
standing at the right of the altar of incense.
Zechariah was troubled by what he saw, and fear came upon him.
One day, when Zechariah was serving God before the altar and he was alone, the Angel Gabriel appeared to him. And fear came upon Zechariah.
But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah,
because your prayer has been heard.
Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son,
He came to announce that their prayer for a child had been heard by God even in their advanced years.
and you shall name him John.
And you will have joy and gladness,
and many will rejoice at his birth,
for he will be great in the sight of the Lord.
John will drink neither wine nor strong drink.
He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb,
and he will turn many of the children of Israel
to the Lord their God.
He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah
to turn their hearts toward their children
and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous,
to prepare a people fit for the Lord.”
He would be the precursor of the Lord. Strong in the spirit of God and pointing the way to the Messiah. But there is more to the story, because Zechariah did not believe the Angel. You should read it yourself: Read the entire chapter which ends with the canticle of Zechariah. If you pray the liturgy of the hours, you'll recognize it as one of our morning prayers.
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