Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist

John heralded his coming by proclaiming a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel; and as John was completing his course, he would say, 'What do you suppose that I am' I am not he. Behold, one is coming after me; I am not worthy to unfasten the sandals of his feet."

Just like John the Baptist, we are all called to proclaim a life of repentance to all of God’s children. We are asked to be prophets of the God News spreading God’s Word to all those whom we meet each day. No, we are not Jesus or John... and perhaps we are not worthy to unfasten the sandals of either man’s feet, but we have the same mission as both of them... the conversion of sinners and the salvation of souls. It is a vocation all Christians have and we must do our best to prepare the way of our Lord and God... for He is coming again and when he does we want to be able to stand before him and say, “We did our best to bring you into the world and bring others into your Way, Truth, and Life.”

Are we fulfilling our calling to be prophets of God’s Good News? How can we spread the Word of God to the world around us? In what ways can we prepare the way of the Lord?

O Lord, we are not worthy to unfasten your sandals, but with your heavenly aid, we shall unfasten the hearts of others so your Love, Mercy, and Grace can enter into them more fully.

Amen.

Eighteenth Monday of Ordinary Time

When Jesus heard of the death of John the Baptist, he withdrew in a boat to a deserted place by himself. The crowds heard of this and followed him on foot from their towns. When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, and he cured their sick.

After John the Baptist’s death, Jesus goes to a deserted place to pray. Sometimes when something sorrowful happens to our loved ones or to ourselves, we need to take time to spend with God and work through our suffering. In order to do this, we need to find a place of solitude and rest there, listening to God. Then, once we are ready, we should return to our mission renewed in the Spirit with eyes filled with compassion for others who might be going through their own trials. It is in this way that prayer and works move us forward in life toward our own Jerusalem and our own passions where we shall be faced with the same choice Jesus was given in the garden: to do our will or God’s Will.

How can we overcome our sorrows through prayer and works? What can we do to show our compassion for others even in the midst of our own trials? Are we doing our will or God’s Will?

O Lord, may our lives be filled with renewing prayer and fulfilling works.

Amen.

Seventeenth Saturday of Ordinary Time

Herod the tetrarch heard of the reputation of Jesus and said to his servants, "This man is John the Baptist. He has been raised from the dead; that is why mighty powers are at work in him."

Our words and works determine who we will be compared with in our lives. Jesus was compared with St. John the Baptist during his life and although we know Jesus is greater than him many of his contemporaries didn’t recognize this. In a similar way, we are all called to remind others of Jesus during our lives. Instead of being prophets of his first coming, as John was, we are the prophets of his second coming. Whenever we speak or act like Christ, we proclaim the Good News and the promise of Jesus’ return, a return we should be anticipating and preparing ourselves for. The greatest compliment anyone could give us during our lives on earth would be, “This man (or woman) is Jesus. He has been raised from the dead; that is why mighty powers are at work in him (or her).”

Do our words echo the words of Jesus? Do our works mirror the works of Jesus? How can we make ourselves living reminders of Christ, our Savior King?

O Lord, may your mighty powers work through us.

Amen.

Memorial of Saints Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen, Bishops and Doctors of the Church

I am the voice of one crying out in the desert, “Make straight the way of the Lord”

John the Baptist is yet another person who gives us an example of what it means to do God’s Will. He might not have been a disciple of Jesus, but he certainly lived a Christ-like life. He proclaimed the Word of God, acted with love and mercy toward others, and ultimately gave his life for what he believed in. He was a good and faithful servant, who prepared the way of the Lord into this world. Although we might not be called to live in a desert and fast as John did, we are called to be prophetic people, evangelizing the world and preparing the hearts of others to receive the Lord more fully. We cannot do that if we do not cultivate a spirit of detachment from the world, seek to rectify our faults, and commit ourselves to proclaiming Jesus’ gospel through our thoughts, words, and works.

How can we lead others to the Lord if we do not take the time to straighten out our own lives? What can we do to prepare the way of the Lord into our lives and the lives of those around us? Are we committed to becoming a faithful servant, no matter what the cost might be?

O Lord, help us to proclaim your gospel and make you present in the world through our loving words and works.

Amen.

Fourth Wednesday of Advent

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.

It is human nature to want to share our good news with family and friends, just as Zechariah and Elizabeth did with their relatives and neighbors. When doing so, we should give witness to God’s Goodness in our lives and thank Him for all He has done for us. We also shouldn’t let those who do not understand our faith to get in the way of celebrating our good news. Instead, our attitude of gratitude should be ever present in our thoughts, words, and works no matter who might question our faith. Like Zechariah, we should express our appreciation to God by doing His Will in spite of what others might think. We might not receive an angelic visitation to tell us what God’s Will is, but as long as we form our conscience wisely and well, we will know the right direction we should be taking in our lives. Then, when we do take those first few steps upon the narrow road to salvation, we too will have our mouths opened, our tongues free, and bless God for all He has done for us.

Do we invite others to share in the goods of our lives? Do we do God’s Will even when others might not understand it?  Do we bless God for all He has done for us?

O Lord, we only wish to be called your good and faithful children.

Amen.

Third Sunday of Advent

The crowds asked John the Baptist, “What should we do?” He said to them in reply,
“Whoever has two cloaks should share with the person who has none. And whoever has food should do likewise.” Even tax collectors came to be baptized and they said to him, “Teacher, what should we do?” He answered them, “Stop collecting more than what is prescribed.” Soldiers also asked him, “And what is it that we should do?” He told them, “Do not practice extortion, do not falsely accuse anyone, and be satisfied with your wages.

What should we do? This is a question at the heart of our lives and our faith. It is a question we have wrestled with in the past, continue to struggle with at present, and will need to face in the future. The reason why this is such a difficult question to answer is because everyone is made with a unique dignity and calling that is all their own. As Christians, we understand that we are called to know, love, and serve God and His children, but how to do this is more difficult to answer because it requires us to examine ourselves and listen for God’s guidance. We can’t do this if we are constantly listening to the world and letting it define who and what we are. We need time alone with God in prayer, in fasting, and in almsgiving. We also should listen to the words of those whom are good influences in our lives because sometimes what they say can be a great help in discerning our vocations. We need to build a relationship with God in order to know how best to do His Will. So let us take the time to do so this day and every day of our lives.

Are we actively trying to discern our vocation or are we constantly distracted by worldly things? Are we building up fruitful relationships with God so we can better do His Will? Do we take time each day to spend with God in hopes of discovering our true callings?

O Lord, give us the answers we need to do your will.

Amen.

Second Thursday of Advent

Amen, I say to you, among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the Kingdom of heaven is greater than he. From the days of John the Baptist until now, the Kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent are taking it by force. All the prophets and the law prophesied up to the time of John. And if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah, the one who is to come. Whoever has ears ought to hear.

In a way, we are all called to be John the Baptist in our lives. We are asked by God to become prophets of Jesus’ life, teachings, and sacrifice. This is not an easy task. Others will oppose us, but it is a necessary step along the way to our salvation. If our lives do not proclaim the coming of the Lord, then what good are they? We shall have nothing to show for our lives if we do not fast, pray, proclaim, and evangelize as John did, though a life of example to those around him. So let us be beacons on a hill, voices in the wilderness, giving glory to God and preparing the way of the Lord into the hearts of others.

Are we willing to be prophets of the gospel of Christ? What have we done to proclaim the kingdom of heaven in our lives and the lives of others? Have we prepared the way of God into our hearts and the hearts of others?

O Lord, make us into prophets of your love, mercy, and grace.

Amen.

Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist

"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.

When we were born, our parents and other family members probably wondered what we would be. The possibilities were endless and the future unknown, perhaps for some of us this is still the case. However, one thing is for sure, the Lord is with us just as He was with John. If we let Him nourish us on holiness and humility, then we too will grow and become strong in the spirit. God knows what He wants us to be, it is up to us to accept His invitation and fulfill our promise or chose our own way and seek our own ends.

What, then, will we be? How do we let the Lord think, speak, and work through us? What is God’s plan for us and have we accepted it?

O Lord, be with us so that we might grow and be strong in the spirit.

Amen.

Second Thursday in Advent

There has been none greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the Kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

It is difficult to think of ourselves as being called to be greater than John the Baptist, but that is exactly what God asks of us. John the Baptist could only proclaim the Kingdom of heaven according to the Law, but we are able to proclaim it through the lens of Jesus’ life. How blessed we are to have the gift of Christ’s sacrifice to model our lives on.

How do we strive to be greater than John the Baptist? Do we live not only by the laws of nature, but also of our Divine Master? Do we have ears that not only hear the Word of God, but listen to it, and then live it?

O Lord, help us to proclaim the Kingdom of heaven with every thought, word, and work of our life so that we might one day join you at the feast of all your saints.

Amen.