June 24, 2014 Tuesday -DO I MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD ? Nativity of John the Baptist Vigil: Jer 1: 4-10 / Ps 71: 1-2, 3-4a, 5-6ab, 15ab and 17 / 1 Pt 1: 8-12 / Lk 1: 5-17; Day: Is 49: 1-6 / Ps 139: 1b-3, 13-14ab, 14c-15 / Acts 13: 22-26 / Lk 1: 57-66, 80 Reading: Is 49:1-6 Listen to me, O islands, pay attention, peoples from distant lands. Yahweh called me from my mothers womb; he pronounced my name before I was born. He made my mouth like a sharpened sword. He hid me in the shadow of his hand. He made me into a polished arrow set apart in his quiver. He said to me, You are Israel, my servant, Through you I will be known. I have labored in vain, I thought and spent my strength for nothing. Yet what is due me was in the hand of Yahweh, and my reward was with my God. I am important in the sight of Yahweh, and my God is my strength. And now Yahweh has spoken, he who formed me in the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him, to gather Israel to him. He said: It is not enough that you be my servant, to restore the tribes of Jacob, to bring back the remnant of Israel. I will make you the light of the nations, that my salvation will reach to the ends of the earth. Gospel: Luke 1:57-66, 80 When the time came for Elizabeth, she gave birth to a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the merciful Lord had done a wonderful thing for her and they rejoiced with her. When on the eighth day they came to attend the circumcision of the child, they wanted to name him Zechariah after his father. But his mother said, Not so; he shall be called John. They said to her, No one in your family has that name; and they asked the father by means of signs for the name he wanted to give. Zechariah asked for a writing tablet and wrote on it, His name is John, and they were very surprised. Immediately Zechariah could speak again and his first words were in praise of God. A holy fear came on all in the neighborhood, and throughout the Hills of Judea the people talked about these events. All who heard of it pondered in their minds and wondered, What will this child be? For they understood that the hand of the Lord was with him. As the child grew up, he was seen to be strong in the Spirit; he lived in the desert till the day when he appeared openly in Israel. What else should we know about ST JOHN THE BAPTIZER OR BAPTIST ? Titles : PRECURSOR or FORERUNNER OF JESUS BRIDGE OF THE OLD & NEW TESTAMENTS St Johns birth-day is the only birthday of a saint celebrated (aside from that of the Blessed Mother and that of the Catholic -Universal Church on Pentecost) St John the Baptist is also believed to be born without original sin like the Blessed Mother (but shes the only one conceived without original sin, like Jesus). Read the more interesting story about St John the Baptist from other Catholic reading sources. (Online too- go to Catholic Encyclopedia) Reflection : WHAT DIFFERENCE HAVE I MADE IN THE WORLD TODAY ? Parents of yesteryears were no different from us today when it comes to the childrens future. Like Elizabeth and Zechariah in the gospel, people were asking one another about John the Baptist, What will this child turn out to be? But his parents knew that God had a plan for him because of the mysterious things that occurred before his birth. So they put the life of their son in Gods hands. We all know that John would become the Precursor of the Messiah, that he would baptize Jesus in the Jordan River and do many great things. But what John did first before he embarked on his mission was to go to the desert and live there. This great man chose to live a very hard life in preparation for his ministry of calling people to conversion. John took the narrow path and that is why aside from Jesus and Mary, he is the only other saint whose birth is celebrated by the Catholic Church. (Dont be bothered about exact birth dates, we are celebrating the important Events liturgically, not dates.) So if parents are still wondering what their child will turn out to be, just remember the story of how John the Baptist came to be. If theres a calling for service, let him/her become a servant leader who might have to suffer much opposition for doing what is right in front of God. Service is not only for religious vocation. There are other forms of good service blessed by God. All parents want their kids to become affluent, but if they desire to serve people as their lifes work, by all means let them do so. Then they can proudly say that they are the parents of this boy or girl who made a difference in the world. How about you and me, can our parents readily say they are proud of what we are today ?
Posted on: Tue, 24 Jun 2014 02:42:02 +0000