Gospel Reading for June 24, 2025 – Luke 1: 57-66, 80
TRULY PREPARE
Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist
When the time arrived for Elizabeth to have her child she gave birth to a son. Her neighbors 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 neighbors, and all these matters were discussed throughout the hill country of Judea. All who heard these 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.
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John the Baptist was a “miracle baby,” having been born of a mother who was not only so advanced in age, but was known to be barren. But, he was not only a miracle as a baby. He was a miracle when his time to be a prophet precursor of the Messiah came. With his extraordinary gifts and as mentioned in Luke 1:15, he was “filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb”, he was able to bring a lot of people to repentance for their sins. He was able to TRULY PREPARE the people for the coming of Jesus. Despite his fame, when Jesus finally started his ministry, he led people to Jesus, quietly withdrawing from his public ministry.
We do not have to be miracle babies in order to prepare the way for Jesus. All we need is to ask the Spirit to help us be like Jesus in his ways and inspire others to follow too, and remember the prayer of John the Baptist: “He must increase, but I must decrease.” (John 3: 30)
St. John the Baptist, pray for us!
