24-06-2014 Gospel of the Day Luke, 1 57. The time came for Elizabeth to have her child, and she gave birth to a son; 58. and when her neighbours and relations heard that the Lord had lavished on her his faithful love, they shared her joy. 59. Now it happened that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; they were going to call him Zechariah after his father, 60. but his mother spoke up. No, she said, he is to be called John. 61. They said to her, But no one in your family has that name, 62. and made signs to his father to find out what he wanted him called. 63. The father asked for a writing-tablet and wrote, His name is John. And they were all astonished. 64. At that instant his power of speech returned and he spoke and praised God. 65. All their neighbours were filled with awe and the whole affair was talked about throughout the hill country of Judaea. 66. All those who heard of it treasured it in their hearts. What will this child turn out to be? they wondered. And indeed the hand of the Lord was with him. 80. Meanwhile the child grew up and his spirit grew strong. And he lived in the desert until the day he appeared openly to Israel. Acts, 13 22. he deposed him and raised up David to be king, whom he attested in these words, I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart, who will perform my entire will. 23. To keep his promise, God has raised up for Israel one of Davids descendants, Jesus, as Saviour, 24. whose coming was heralded by John when he proclaimed a baptism of repentance for the whole people of Israel. 25. Before John ended his course he said, I am not the one you imagine me to be; there is someone coming after me whose sandal I am not fit to undo. 26. My brothers, sons of Abrahams race, and all you godfearers, this message of salvation is meant for you. Psalms, 139 1. [For the choirmaster Of David Psalm] Yahweh, you examine me and know me, 2. you know when I sit, when I rise, you understand my thoughts from afar. 3. You watch when I walk or lie down, you know every detail of my conduct. 4. A word is not yet on my tongue before you, Yahweh, know all about it. 5. You fence me in, behind and in front, you have laid your hand upon me. 6. Such amazing knowledge is beyond me, a height to which I cannot attain. 7. Where shall I go to escape your spirit? Where shall I flee from your presence? 8. If I scale the heavens you are there, if I lie flat in Sheol, there you are. 9. If I speed away on the wings of the dawn, if I dwell beyond the ocean, 10. even there your hand will be guiding me, your right hand holding me fast. 11. I will say, Let the darkness cover me, and the night wrap itself around me, 12. even darkness to you is not dark, and night is as clear as the day. 13. You created my inmost self, knit me together in my mothers womb. 14. For so many marvels I thank you; a wonder am I, and all your works are wonders. You knew me through and through, 15. my being held no secrets from you, when I was being formed in secret, textured in the depths of the earth. 16. Your eyes could see my embryo. In your book all my days were inscribed, every one that was fixed is there. 17. How hard for me to grasp your thoughts, how many, God, there are! 18. If I count them, they are more than the grains of sand; if I come to an end, I am still with you. 19. If only, God, you would kill the wicked!-Men of violence, keep away from me!- 20. those who speak blasphemously about you, and take no account of your thoughts. 21. Yahweh, do I not hate those who hate you, and loathe those who defy you? 22. My hate for them has no limits, I regard them as my own enemies. 23. God, examine me and know my heart, test me and know my concerns. 24. Make sure that I am not on my way to ruin, and guide me on the road of eternity. Isaiah, 49 1. Coasts and islands, listen to me, pay attention, distant peoples. Yahweh called me when I was in the womb, before my birth he had pronounced my name. 2. He made my mouth like a sharp sword, he hid me in the shadow of his hand. He made me into a sharpened arrow and concealed me in his quiver. 3. He said to me, Israel, you are my servant, through whom I shall manifest my glory. 4. But I said, My toil has been futile, I have exhausted myself for nothing, to no purpose. Yet all the while my cause was with Yahweh and my reward with my God. 5. And now Yahweh has spoken, who formed me in the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him and to re-unite Israel to him;-I shall be honoured in Yahwehs eyes, and my God has been my strength.- 6. He said, It is not enough for you to be my servant, to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back the survivors of Israel; I shall make you a light to the nations so that my salvation may reach the remotest parts of earth. Commentary on the Gospel UNDER THE PROTECTION OF THE LORD The Gospel text emphasizes the intense divine manifestation in the facts connected with the birth of John the Baptist, who was given the task to prepare the way of the Messiah Jesus. And this, to the point that, throughout the neighborhood, spread a divine fear, leading people to wonder: What will this child going to be?. The unexplained silence of his father Zechariah was a clear indication that something wonderful was happening. He only returned when talking fulfill the divine command to give the child the name of John, meaning God is favorable, although his relatives judged that the most normal thing would be to call him Zechariah, like his father. The birth of Elizabeth was also interpreted as demonstration of great mercy of the Lord to her. Indeed, without divine aid could ever conceive and give birth, given his advanced age and sterility. The divine protection given to John the Baptist framed in the design of God to entrust him with the task of preparing the people to receive the Messiah, predisposing them to conversion. The severity of this task required it to be rugged the Spirit himself, in order to empower themselves for the fulfillment of Gods plan. John the Baptist knew correspond to the action of the Spirit. His life would be a splendid witness of fear of God, of whose paths never strayed, even should his martyrdom. prayer Father, take me under your protection and strengthens me with your Spirit so that I can meet with courage and loyalty, the tasks of the United entrusted to me.
Posted on: Thu, 26 Jun 2014 23:52:36 +0000
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