DAILY- HOMILY

JUNE 24, 2011
SOLEMNITY, NATIVITY OF JOHN THE BAPTIST
FRIDAY 12TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME – YEAR I

Is 49:1-6 / Ps 139:1-3, 13-14, 14-15 / Acts 13:22-26 / Lk 1:57-66, 80

ISAIAH 49:1-6
Listen to me, O islands, pay attention, peoples from distant lands.
Yahweh called me from my mother's womb; he pronounced my name before I
was born. He made my mouth like a sharpened sword. He hid me in the
shadow of his hand. He made me into a polished arrow set apart in his
quiver. He said to me, "You are Israel, my servant, Through you I will
be known." "I have labored in vain," I thought and spent my strength
for nothing." Yet what is due me was in the hand of Yahweh, and my
reward was with my God. I am important in the sight of Yahweh, and my
God is my strength. And now Yahweh has spoken, he who formed me in the
womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him, to gather Israel
to him. He said: "It is not enough that you be my servant, to restore
the tribes of Jacob, to bring back the remnant of Israel. I will make
you the light of the nations, that my salvation will reach to the ends
of the earth."

LUKE 1:57-66, 80
When the time came for Elizabeth, she gave birth to a son. Her
neighbors and relatives heard that the merciful Lord had done a
wonderful thing for her and they rejoiced with her. When on the eighth
day they came to attend the circumcision of the child, they wanted to
name him Zechariah after his father. But his mother said, "Not so; he
shall be called John." They said to her, "No one in your family has
that name"; and they asked the father by means of signs for the name
he wanted to give. Zechariah asked for a writing tablet and wrote on
it, "His name is John," and they were very surprised. Immediately
Zechariah could speak again and his first words were in praise of God.
A holy fear came on all in the neighborhood, and throughout the Hills
of Judea the people talked about these events. All who heard of it
pondered in their minds and wondered, "What will this child be?" For
they understood that the hand of the Lord was with him. As the child
grew up, he was seen to be strong in the Spirit; he lived in the
desert till the day when he appeared openly in Israel.

REFLECTION
John the Baptist was born to Zechariah and Elizabeth, the cousin of
the Blessed Mother. So, in effect, he was the cousin of Jesus. We know
that Elizabeth was already advanced in age when, by the mysterious
will of God, she became pregnant. And when Mary came to visit her, the
baby in her womb leapt for joy because the unborn John felt the
presence of his Lord who was at that time in the womb of the Virgin
Mary.

When John was born, everyone knew that the baby would become someone
great. John did become great. But what kind of greatness did he show?
He lived a life of self-denial and mortification in the desert. And
when he appeared in Israel, it was to preach repentance to the Jews to
prepare them for the coming of the Lord. He prepared the way for
someone else and when Jesus did arrive, he took the back seat for him.
Yet many of the future followers of Jesus were also disciples of John.
They heeded his call for repentance and therefore were ready to see in
Jesus the long-awaited Messiah. Eventually, John died for Jesus.

Has there been a John the Baptist in your life who brought you to
Jesus? Be always grateful to him/her/them because they have done a
great service to you.

PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray …
… for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the
unborn.
… for the speedy recovery and healing of
- Ditas dela Paz
- Jo Marcelo
- Jun Lee
- Wally Torres, Francis Torres, Ditas dela Paz
- Fr. Luis Sierra, OP
… for the personal intentions of
- Pauline
- Zaida Diaz
- Tess Mendoza
… for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.
- Birthday: Sandra Reyes-Morgan
- Thanksgiving: Bishop Ruperto Santos Ordination as Bishop
- In Memoriam (+): Ma. Del Carmen F. Bate
- In Memoriam (+): Juana Galvez Santos Ocampo
… for world peace and reconciliation.

Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers
and for those who need our prayers the most.

Have a good day!

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