The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today, the Solemnity of John the Baptist, invite us to ponder our heritage and mission to be Servant of the Lord in our relationships with the people we encounter on our daily journey.
The reading from the Prophet Isaiah presents the second Servant of the Lord oracle.
* [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 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 139 is a meditation on God’s omnipresence and omniscience.
* [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).
* [139:2] When I sit and stand: in all my physical movement. (Psalms, PSALM 139 | USCCB, n.d.)
The reading from the Acts of the Apostles proclaims that the Christian church is the logical development of Pharisaic Judaism.
* [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 | USCCB, n.d.)
The Gospel of Luke proclaims the birth and circumcision 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 | USCCB, n.d.)
Sherri Brown notes that John the Baptist impact is both foundational and profound. She wonders could the early Christian movement have been so successful without him?
Regarding the miraculous conception and birth of John narrated in Luke and celebrated today, I am compelled to find myself experiencing the narrative from Elizabeth’s perspective. After years (decades?) of sorrowful hopes for children, she is blessed with a miracle child, then immediately challenged with one concern after another from every side. She must hold on tightly to her prophetic child, nurturing him to adulthood, but also let him go to live out his calling as the prophetic voice crying in the wilderness that foreruns what changes everything.
The birth of John, witness testifying to the One sent by God to atone for sin and to put in place a new covenant available to everyone, and baptizer of repentant souls who desire to live in right relationship with God and thereby live out this new covenant, is celebrated today. God bless him, and God bless all of us who strive to live by his conviction and prophetic voice. (Brown, 2025)
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 Isaiah 49:1-6 asks how can we be a herald of the Lord? Consider the day ahead of us. Picture the people we are likely to encounter today. Will we have any opportunities to share our faith with them—through our words or our witness?
Whether you are heading into a stressful meeting, running errands, or managing family responsibilities, you can have confidence that God has called you to be his herald. Even if Jesus’ coming into those interactions is quiet or hidden, it is no less momentous. So take inspiration from John the Baptist, and embrace your mission!
“Jesus, help me to be your herald today!” (Meditation on Isaiah 49:1-6, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments that the passage in Isaiah about the suffering servant usually refers to Jesus but here it may refer to John the Baptist chosen in the womb even before he was born. His mission was to bring back the tribes of Israel and to the Gentile people through Jesus. In the synagogue, Paul speaks of David and John the Baptist at one level of humility at another level citing a Levirate marriage where the next of kin marries the widow but the rights are given up by unfastening the sandal. The One to marry Israel is Jesus. In Luke at the time to have him circumcised he is named “John” meaning “God is merciful” and not named after one of the relatives. The passage has us ask if Zachariah was deaf also as punishment for non belief by Gabriel, who has him silenced. Friar Jude notes the infancy narratives in Luke are filled with wonder and joy celebrating great leading to greater.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, shares that we can only practice new ways of being in the world if we maintain some degree of nonattachment from the systems around us.
Many people now find this solidarity in think tanks, support groups, prayer groups, study groups, house-building projects, healing circles, or community-focused organizations. Perhaps without fully recognizing it, we’re actually heading in the right direction. Some new studies indicate that Christians are not so much leaving Christianity as they are realigning with groups that live Christian values in the world—instead of just gathering again to hear the readings, recite the creed, and sing songs on Sunday. Jesus does not need our singing; we need instead to act like a community. Actual Christian behavior might just be growing more than we realize. Behavior has a very different emphasis than mere membership.
Remember, it’s not the brand name that matters.
It is that God’s heart be made available and active on this earth. (Rohr, n.d.)
We contemplate how the example of John the Baptist might shape our response to our Baptismal Anointing as priest, prophet, and leader in the communities in which we move.
References
Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 13 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved June 24, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/13?22
Brown, S. (2025, June 24). Daily Reflection June 24, 2025 | Creighton Online Ministries. Creighton Online Ministries. Retrieved June 24, 2025, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-june-24-2025
Isaiah, CHAPTER 49 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved June 24, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/isaiah/49?1
Luke, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved June 24, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/1?57
Meditation on Isaiah 49:1-6. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved June 24, 2025, from https://wau.org/meditations/2025/06/24/1312202/
Psalms, PSALM 139 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved June 24, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/139?1
Rohr, R. (n.d.). Living, Visible Models. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved June 24, 2025, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/living-visible-models/
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, 2025, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2025&date=jun24a
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