Hello all, Happy feast day to all born, baptized and married today Happy feast day to all Deacons, Seminarians, all those ordained priests, Bishops, Reverend Brothers in Christ Jesus and Sisters of Charity Happy feast day to all those named John and parents of all named John Happy feast day to all baptized Christians Happy feast day to all Catholic Missionaries Happy feast day to all Martyrs Today (August 29) marks the Memorial of The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist. He was born c. 5 BC Saint John the Baptist was an itinerant preacher and a major religious figure who baptized Jesus Christ and led a movement of baptism at the Jordan River. He was a historical figure who followed the example of previous Hebrew prophets, living austerely, challenging sinful rulers, calling for repentance, and promising Gods justice. He is regarded as a prophet in Christianity. Jesus Christ himself, classified him as the greatest of all the prophets His baptism was a purification rite for repentant sinners, performed in living water All four canonical gospels relate Johns preaching and baptism in the River Jordan. Most notably he is the one who recognizes Jesus as the Messiah and baptizes Him. The baptism of Jesus marked the beginning of Jesus ministry. The Gospels of Mark, Matthew and (most clearly) Luke relate that Jesus Christ came from Galilee to John in Judea and was baptized by him, whereupon the Spirit descended upon Jesus and a voice from Heaven told him he was Gods Son. The Gospel of John does not record Johns baptizing Jesus, but John introduces Jesus to his disciples as the Lamb of God (John 1:29-36[29]). Considered by Christians to be without sin, Jesus nevertheless received Johns baptism, which was for the repentance of sins (Mark 1:4[30]). This is addressed in the Gospel of Matthews account, which portrays Johns refusal to baptize Jesus, saying, I need to be baptized by you. Jesus persuades John to baptize Him nonetheless (Matthew 3:13-15[31]). Herod Antipas saw Saint John the Baptist as a threat and had him executed by beheading. In the New Testament Jesus is the one whose coming Saint John the Baptist foretold. John condemned Herod for marrying Herodias, the former wife of his brother Philip, in violation of Old Testament Law. Later Herodias daughter Salome dances before Herod, who offers her a favour in return. Herodias tells her to ask for the head of John the Baptist, which is delivered to her on a plate (Mark 6:14-29). Herod had John imprisoned for denouncing his marriage, and he is later executed. John condemned Herod for marrying Herodias, the former wife of his brother Philip, in violation of Old Testament Law. Later Herodias daughter Salome dances before Herod, who offers her a favour in return. Herodias tells her to ask for the head of John the Baptist, which is delivered to her on a plate (Mark 6:14-29) He died c. 36 AD (aged 38-42) Christians commonly refer to John as the precursor or forerunner of Jesus, since in the Gospels, Saint John the Baptist announces Jesus coming. Saint John the Baptist is also identified with the prophet Elijah. Christians believe that John the Baptist had a specific role ordained by God as forerunner or precursor of Jesus, who was the foretold Messiah. The New Testament Gospels speak of this role. In Luke 1:17 the role of John is referred to as being to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. In Luke 1:76 as ...thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways and in Luke 1:77 as being To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins. There are several passages within the Old Testament which are interpreted by Christians as being prophetic of John the Baptist in this role. These include a passage in the Book of Malachi 3:1 that refers to a prophet who would prepare the way of the Lord: Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts. — Malachi 3:1[38] and also at the end of the next chapter in Malachi 4:5-6 where it says, Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse. The Jews of Jesus day expected Elijah to come before the Messiah; indeed, some modern Jews continue to await Elijahs coming as well, as in the Cup of Elijah the Prophet in the Passover Seder. This is why the disciples ask Jesus in Matthew 17:10, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come?. The disciples are then told by Jesus that Elijah came in the person of John the Baptist, Jesus replied, To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things. But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands. Then the disciples understood that he was talking to them about John the Baptist. — Matthew 17:11-13 John is described by the Gospel of Luke as a relative of Jesus (Jesus mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary, was a cousin to Johns mother, Elizabeth). Because Scripture described John as endowed with prenatal grace, the feast day of his birth (June 24) became celebrated more solemnly than that marking his martyrdom (August 29). In art, his head is often depicted on a platter, which represents the request of Herods stepdaughter, Salome. He is also depicted as an ascetic wearing camel hair and with a staff and scroll inscribed Ecce Agnus Dei, or bearing a book or dish with a lamb on it. The Gospel of Luke includes an account of Johns infancy, introducing him as the son of Zachariah, an old man, and his wife Elizabeth, who was sterile. According to this account the birth of John was foretold by the angel Gabriel to Zachariah, while Zachariah was performing his functions as a priest in the temple of Jerusalem. The Gospel of Luke states that Jesus was conceived when Elizabeth was about six months pregnant; when her cousin, the Virgin Mary, came to tell her about her news, Elizabeths unborn child jumped for joy in her womb. Zachariah had lost his speech at the behest and prophecy of the angel Gabriel, and it was restored on the occasion of Zachariah naming John. On the basis of Lukes account, the Catholic calendar of saint placed the feast of the “Nativity of Saint John the Baptist” on June 24, which is 6 months before Christmas. According to the Gospel of Saint Luke, Jesus and Saint John the Baptist were related, their mothers being cousins. Saint John the Baptist is the Last Prophet of the Old Testament and the only prophet of the New Testament. --------------------------------------------- Let us pray that by the works, spiritual direction, spiritual maturity, intercession and martyrdom of Saint John the Baptist, we may in this group find the spiritual motivation to win our souls for God. Amen Summary of the martyrdom of Saint John the Baptist can be viewed by clicking the photo of the Saint in our groups photo section. Saint of the day and feast of the day, would be communicated to you as promptly and consistently as humanly possible, by Gods grace. May we all in this group and beyond this group, Christians and non Christians alike, Catholics and non Catholics alike, be saved from the fires of hell and lifted up into heaven after our stay here on this exile. Amen May our Lord Jesus Christ, through the intercession of Saint John the Baptist and other Saints, through Gods Divine Mercy strengthen our souls, open out the way for us all, and above all, intoxicate us with HIS love. Amen May Christ make us into blazing fires to enkindle the earth with the heavenly fire HE brought us. Amen Jesus we love you, all we have is yours, yours we are and yours we want to be, please do with us whatever you will. Amen Jesus, Mary we love you, please save our souls. Amen God bless you and grant your heart’s desire. Amen Saint John the Baptist, pray for us. Amen. For a brief on our Saint of today, please click the link below: https://youtube/watch?v=elmRNJ6Gu1s
Posted on: Fri, 29 Aug 2014 15:27:13 +0000
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