24 June, 2024 | Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist

 Reading1: Is 49:1-6,  Reading2: Acts 13:22-26

Gospel Lk 1:57-66, 80

When the time arrived for Elizabeth to have her child

she gave birth to a son.

Her neighbours and relatives heard

that the Lord had shown his great mercy toward her,

and they rejoiced with her.

When they came on the eighth day to circumcise the child,

they were going to call him Zechariah after his father,

but his mother said in reply,

“No. He will be called John.”

But they answered her,

“There is no one among your relatives who has this name.”

So they made signs, asking his father what he wished him to be called.

He asked for a tablet and wrote, “John is his name,”

and all were amazed.

Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed,

and he spoke blessing God.

Then fear came upon all their neighbours,

and all these matters were discussed

throughout the hill country of Judea.

All who heard these things took them to heart, saying,

“What, then, will this child be?”

For surely the hand of the Lord was with him.

The child grew and became strong in spirit,

and he was in the desert until the day

of his manifestation to Israel.

Reflection: 

The birth of John the Baptist was special and extraordinary.  God had chosen aged parents, also because he wanted to manifest to the world that there was nothing impossible with God.  John the Baptist had an important role in the eternal salvation plan of God and was chosen as the forerunner of his cousin, Jesus, whom he pointed as the Lamb who takes away the sins of the world, during his mission.

In the Gospel passage we read of the miracle that happened to Elisabeth and Zechariah, John’s parents, at the time of his birth.  The people marvelled that the tongue of Zechariah was released and that he could speak after he had obediently assigned the name ‘John’ to his new born. That instant was enough to let people know that they had a chosen child of God amongst them.

On this special day, let us resolve to follow God’s specific instructions to each of us, in complete obedience and surrender to his will.

Activity:

 Enjoy the canticle of John’s father Zechariah (Luke 1:67-79) which he speaks after being filled with God’s Holy Spirit, as a prophecy. 

Reflections by Parimala Selvaraj

Voice: Sharlene Fernandes