Solemnity of the Nativity of John the Baptist

Year of the Family "Amoris Laetitia The Joy of Love"

10th World Meeting of Families through June 26, 2022 "Family Love: A Vocation and Path to Holiness"

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 18:7-11 The Order of the Psalmody

Mass: Is 49:1-9; Resp Ps 139; Acts 13:22-26; Lk 1:57-66, 80

You understand my thoughts from afar.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

PRAY FOR US.

The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the desert until the day of his manifestation to Israel.

(Lk 1:80)

Welcome to the first of two days in a row! of Solemnities celebrated in our Church. Today we have the joy of celebrating the Nativity of John the Baptist, the infant who leaped in the womb of his mother Elizabeth, when Elizabeth heard her cousin Mary's greeting (Lk 1:41). We have the privilege too of honoring John the Baptist twice during the liturgical year. Today we commemorate his birth and on August 29 we commemorate his death. Fitting it is, as reminded, for Jesus said this about John: I tell you, among those born of women, no one is greater than John (Lk 7:28). Jesus also had this to say: Yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he (Lk 7:28). 

John knew of his great responsibility as the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, "Make straight the way of Lord" (Jn 1:23). At the same time, John knew that there was one coming after him, One whose sandal strap John was not worthy to untie (Jn 1:27). With this and more, I think of something Cardinal Basil Hume said when commenting on a lesson in humility he learned in his years as schoolmaster.

As a schoolmaster I learned a very important truth. Looking after boys which was my task, I discovered that every boy between the ages of thirteen and eighteen (which was the age range in which I operated) was in some manner superior to me. He was something I could not be or he could do something which I couldn't do-even if it was only fixing a television set.

(B. Hume in Cardinal Basil Hume: In My Own Words, ed. T. de Bertodano, p. 83)

Heart of Jesus, source of strength, wisdom, and humility, have mercy on us.

SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST,

SAINT ELIZABETH,

SAINT ZECHARIAH,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: A voice crying out in the wilderness.

© Gertrude Feick 2022