Gospel: June 24, 2025
June 24, 2025 (Tuesday)
Solemnity of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist
Psalter: Proper / (White)
Ps 139:1b-3, 13-14ab, 14c-15
I praise you, for I am wonderfully made.
1st Reading: Isaiah 49:1-6
2nd Reading: Acts 13:22-26
After that time, God removed him and raised up David as king, to whom he bore witness saying: I have found David, the son of Jesse, a man after my own heart, who will do all I want him to do.
It is from the descendants of David that God has now raised up the promised Savior of Israel, Jesus. Before he appeared, John proclaimed a baptism of repentance for all the people of Israel. As John was ending his life’s work, he said: ‘I am not what you think I am, for after me another one is coming, whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.’ Brothers, children, and descendants of Abraham, and you also who fear God, it is to you that this message of salvation has been sent.
Gospel: 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, “But no one in your family has that name!” and they made signs to his father for the name he wanted to give him. 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 hill country 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; and he lived in the desert until the day when he appeared openly in Israel.
Reflection:
“To serve the Lord with humility”
In some countries, such as the Philippines, the hours of daylight in June and December are quite similar. However, other countries, like Scotland, have a stark difference between the two, with a very long day in June and a very short day in December. The feasts celebrating the birth of John the Baptist and of our Lord were established around the summer and winter solstices of the northern hemisphere, so that even the seasons reflect the relationship between the precursor and the Saviour, between the one who prepares the way and the One who is the Way. John the Baptist’s feast occurs near the longest day, so that as we get closer to Christmas, John’s days get shorter, and then with the birth of Christ, Christ’s days get longer. Thus, the seasons reflect John’s humility, when he says, “It is necessary that he increase but that I decrease” (Jn 3:30). He has been specially chosen to preach a message of repentance in preparation forthe coming of the Messiah, but this great task must always be done with humility. We are to serve the Lord with humility, too, and like John, allow Christ to grow ever greater in our lives.
