“What, then, will this child be?”

June 24, 2007

Solemnity of the Nativity of John theBaptist

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. Jeremiah 1:7-8


“What, then, will this child be?” For surely the hand of the Lord was with him. Luke 1:80


It is too little, he says, for you to be my servant, to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and restore the survivors of Israel; I will make you a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth. Isaiah 49:6

Piety

God we are born with your spirit.

Help us to use that spirit:
To find the lost,
To heal the broken,
To feed the hungry,
To release the prisoner,
To rebuild the nations,
To bring peace among others,
To make music in the heart,
To proclaim good news to the poor.
Amen.

Study
http://www.usccb.org/nab/062407b.shtml

During Saturday night’s Vigil Mass and Sunday, we celebrate the Nativity of St. John the Baptist, cousin to Jesus. His is the only other birth besides Jesus’ that is documented in the four Gospels. Through these two babies, God’s plan for salvation was fulfilled.

Babies…BABIES! God had legions of angels at his beck and call. In fact, God dispatched one – Archangel Gabriel – to announce the pending birth of both of these boys to their respective parents. Yet instead of angels, he sent babies to grow up in the world. He sent babies who would know the temptations of the world and overcome them. He sent babies to be a “light” for the nations. He sent babies that He knew would both wind up on death row, victims of torture and execution by the ruling government.

The conceptions of both boys were somewhat of a surprise. Jesus was born to a virgin who had not had relations with a man. John, on the other hand, was born to an older woman who was reported to be barren. As such, both births are miraculous.

Yet are not all birth miraculous?

Central to Catholic Social Teaching is the dignity and worth of every human person. It doesn’t matter if you are born blond or brunette, rich or poor, tall or short, American or Azerbaijani, your inherent dignity is you inherent birthright. The ruling authorities tried to steal that dignity from John and Jesus through humiliating public torture and execution.

Despite the end he would face, John was brought into the world to proclaim the good news and to prepare the way for the Lord. And he did so lovingly and wholeheartedly.

Question for reflection: Why were you brought into the world? What is God’s plan for you?

Action

June is Torture Awareness Month and June 26 is the International Day for the Remembrance of Victims of Torture.

The Torture Abolition and Survivors Support Coalition International (TASSC), founded by and for torture survivors, provides information on this issue at http://www.tassc.org/. They are working to repeal the Military Commissions Act which was passed last fall and seems to allow torture by the United States. For more info, go to http://tassc.org/?sn=112.

Created in 1986, the World Organization Against Torture (OMCT) is a "coalition of international non-governmental organizations (NGO) fighting against torture, summary executions, enforced disappearances and all other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment." Find out more info and info about their action campaigns at http://www.omct.org/.