The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today, the Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist, challenge us to ponder the messages we are prompted by the Spirit to present to our environment.
The reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah describes the Servant’s Mission.
* [49:1–7] The second of the four “servant of the Lord” oracles (cf. note on 42:1–4).
* [49:1] Gave me my name: designated me for a special task or mission (cf. Jer 1:5).
* [49:3] Israel: the servant is identified with the people of Israel as their ideal representative; however, vv. 5–6 seem to distinguish the servant from Israel.
* [49:6] The servant’s vocation extends beyond the restoration of Israel in order to bring the knowledge of Israel’s God to the rest of the earth; cf. Lk 2:32. (Isaiah, CHAPTER 49, n.d.)
Psalm 139 praises the Inescapable God.
* [Psalm 139] A hymnic meditation on God’s omnipresence and omniscience. The psalmist is keenly aware of God’s all-knowing gaze (Ps 139:1–6), of God’s presence in every part of the universe (Ps 139:7–12), and of God’s control over the psalmist’s very self (Ps 139:13–16). Summing up Ps 139:1–16, 17–18 express wonder. There is only one place hostile to God’s rule—wicked people. The psalmist prays to be removed from their company (Ps 139:19–24). (Psalms, PSALM 139, n.d.)
The reading from the Acts of the Apostles is from Paul’s Address in the Synagogue.
* [13:16–41] This is the first of several speeches of Paul to Jews proclaiming that the Christian church is the logical development of Pharisaic Judaism (see also Acts 24:10–21; 26:2–23). (Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 13, n.d.)
The Gospel of Luke describes the Birth of John the Baptist.
* [1:57–66] The birth and circumcision of John above all emphasize John’s incorporation into the people of Israel by the sign of the covenant (Gn 17:1–12). The narrative of John’s circumcision also prepares the way for the subsequent description of the circumcision of Jesus in Lk 2:21. At the beginning of his two-volume work Luke shows those who play crucial roles in the inauguration of Christianity to be wholly a part of the people of Israel. At the end of the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 21:20; 22:3; 23:6–9; 24:14–16; 26:2–8, 22–23) he will argue that Christianity is the direct descendant of Pharisaic Judaism.
* [1:59] The practice of Palestinian Judaism at this time was to name the child at birth; moreover, though naming a male child after the father is not completely unknown, the usual practice was to name the child after the grandfather (see Lk 1:61). The naming of the child John and Zechariah’s recovery from his loss of speech should be understood as fulfilling the angel’s announcement to Zechariah in Lk 1:13, 20. (Luke, CHAPTER 1, n.d.)
Kimberly Grassmeyer has reflected, today, on a different Gospel passage.
Don Schwager quotes “Parallels between John and Jesus,” by Ephrem the Syrian (306-373 AD).
"The elderly Elizabeth gave birth to the last of the prophets, and Mary, a young girl, to the Lord of the angels. The daughter of Aaron gave birth to the voice in the desert (Isaiah 63:9), but the daughter of David to the strong God of the earth. The barren one gave birth to him who remits sins, but the Virgin gave birth to him who takes them away (John 1:29). Elizabeth gave birth to him who reconciled people through repentance, but Mary gave birth to him who purified the lands of uncleanness. The elder one lit a lamp in the house of Jacob, his father, for this lamp itself was John (John 5:35), while the younger one lit the Sun of Justice (Malachi 4:2) for all the nations. The angel announced to Zechariah, so that the slain one would proclaim the crucified one and that the hated one would proclaim the envied one. He who was to baptize with water would proclaim him who would baptize with fire and with the Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:11). The light, which was not obscure, would proclaim the Sun of Justice. The one filled with the Spirit would proclaim concerning him who gives the Spirit. The priest calling with the trumpet would proclaim concerning the one who is to come at the sound of the trumpet at the end. The voice would proclaim concerning the Word, and the one who saw the dove would proclaim concerning him upon whom the dove rested, like the lightning before the thunder." (excerpt from COMMENTARY ON TATIAN'S DIATESSARON 1.31) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Luke 1:57-66, 80 comments that Zechariah knew that his son had been chosen for a special mission—to be the forerunner and prophet of the Messiah—and his heart was filled with joy at John’s role in God’s plan.
Because Jesus has died and is risen, you are living in a time of fulfillment that John could only dream of! Through Baptism, you have been freed from the power of sin. You have the indwelling Holy Spirit. You have the saints in heaven cheering you on. And you have an earthly community of brothers and sisters to support you. With all these blessings, how can your life not reveal the love of the Lord?
What, then, will you be?
“Lord, show me how I can bring about your plan of salvation in my corner of the world today!” (Meditation on Luke 1:57-66, 80, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler notes that the text from one of the Songs of the Suffering Servant in Isaiah is applied to John the Baptist today. Paul addresses the synagogue distinguishing the purification rituals of the Jewish tradition from the cleaning from sin preached by John the Baptist. Friar Jude reminds us that John in Hebrew proclaims “Yahweh is merciful” and hints that Luke may be associating the Baptist with the community at Qumran.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Writer Pixie Lighthorse who suggests that a greater understanding of our pain will teach us what shadow work is ours to do.
Knowing your default settings under stress tells you about the nature of your shadow and can help you track it. Remember: You were not born with a shadow. It was built by experiencing complex models of interaction that caused you to curb your natural impulses in order to avoid disappointing or displeasing someone close to you. It crystallized in place when it served to protect you with certain behaviors and outward appearances. Shadow works to get your needs met and avoid or control a situation.
Being hurt results in trying to prevent it from happening again, although what often happens is we end up reenacting the circumstances. Recognizing this pattern means you’ll someday want to take off the mask to shift what you’re painfully reliving.
In conflict, what do your expressions and posture reflect? Where do you hear yourself becoming confused or childlike? Try going to a mirror when you feel triggered to get a sense for what masks you put on without knowing it. (Rohr, 2023)
We have been fearfully and wonderfully made to take up with the guidance of the Spirit a role as messenger to our community about full life in Jesus.
References
Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 13. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved June 24, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/13?22
Isaiah, CHAPTER 49. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved June 24, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/isaiah/49?1
Luke, CHAPTER 1. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved June 24, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/1?57
Meditation on Luke 1:57-66, 80. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved June 24, 2023, from https://wau.org/meditations/2023/06/24/714419/
Psalms, PSALM 139. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved June 24, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/139?1
Rohr, R. (2023, June 24). Shadow Work: Weekly Summary — Center for Action and Contemplation. Daily Meditations Archive: 2023. Retrieved June 24, 2023, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/shadow-work-weekly-summary-2023-06-24/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). The Hand of the Lord Was with Him. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved June 24, 2023, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2023&date=jun24a
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