Birth of John the Baptist, During the Day
While the Isaiah prophecy is seems true of both Jesus and John, we realize it shows John as the first rays of dawn pointing to the rising sun. And John had the humility to accept this, to prepare rather than fit the mold of the priest-king or even of a priest. He, like God's plan for us, was unique. So our lives too have a plan that is in relationship to Jesus. We may seem to be failures, but in the end God will fit us into our place in which we rejoice in the risen sun, Jesus.
Title
Outline
Dawn is a complex phenomenon
Isaiah speaks of one called and named before birth
Thus we get Acts’ summary
The parents had to affirm this at his birth
Well, Sisters, there we see something for us
Readings
FIRST READING
Isaiah 49:1–6
CHAPTER 49
1 Hear me, coastlands,
listen, distant peoples.
Before birth the LORD called me,
from my mother’s womb he gave me my name.
2 He made my mouth like a sharp-edged sword,
concealed me, shielded by his hand.
He made me a sharpened arrow,
in his quiver he hid me.
3 He said to me, You are my servant,
in you, Israel, I show my glory.
4 Though I thought I had toiled in vain,
for nothing and for naught spent my strength,
Yet my right is with the LORD,
my recompense is with my God.
5 For now the LORD has spoken
who formed me as his servant from the womb,
That Jacob may be brought back to him
and Israel gathered to him;
I am honored in the sight of the LORD,
and my God is now my strength!
6 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.
RESPONSE
Psalm 139:14
14 I praise you, because I am wonderfully made;
wonderful are your works!
My very self you know.
PSALM
Psalm 139:1b–3, 13–15
1 For the leader. A psalm of David.
LORD, you have probed me, you know me:
2 you know when I sit and stand;
you understand my thoughts from afar.
3 You sift through my travels and my rest;
with all my ways you are familiar.
13 You formed my inmost being;
you knit me in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you, because I am wonderfully made;
wonderful are your works!
My very self you know.
15 My bones are not hidden from you,
When I was being made in secret,
fashioned in the depths of the earth.
SECOND READING
Acts 13:22–26
22 Then he removed him and raised up David as their king; of him he testified, ‘I have found David, son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will carry out my every wish.’ 23 From this man’s descendants God, according to his promise, has brought to Israel a savior, Jesus. 24 John heralded his coming by proclaiming a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel; 25 and as John was completing his course, he would say, ‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. Behold, one is coming after me; I am not worthy to unfasten the sandals of his feet.’
26 “My brothers, children of the family of Abraham, and those others among you who are God-fearing, to us this word of salvation has been sent.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
Luke 1:76
76 And you, child, will be called prophet of the Most High,
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
GOSPEL
Luke 1:57–66, 80
57 When the time arrived for Elizabeth to have her child she gave birth to a son. 58 Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy toward her, and they rejoiced with her. 59 When they came on the eighth day to circumcise the child, they were going to call him Zechariah after his father, 60 but his mother said in reply, “No. He will be called John.” 61 But they answered her, “There is no one among your relatives who has this name.” 62 So they made signs, asking his father what he wished him to be called. 63 He asked for a tablet and wrote, “John is his name,” and all were amazed. 64 Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed, and he spoke blessing God. 65 Then fear came upon all their neighbors, and all these matters were discussed throughout the hill country of Judea. 66 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.
80 The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the desert until the day of his manifestation to Israel.
Notes
SATURDAY, JUNE 24, 2023 | SOLEMNITY
BIRTH OF JOHN THE BAPTIST
DURING THE DAY
YEARS ABC | ROMAN MISSAL | LECTIONARY
First Reading Isaiah 49:1–6
Response Psalm 139:14
Psalm Psalm 139:1b–3, 13–15
Second Reading Acts 13:22–26
Gospel Acclamation Luke 1:76
Gospel Luke 1:57–66, 80