At the Vigil Mass
FIRST READING
Jeremiah 1:4–10
In the days of King Josiah, the word of the LORD came to me, saying:
Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I dedicated you, a prophet to the nations I appointed you.
“Ah, Lord GOD!” I said, “I know not how to speak; I am too young.” But the LORD answered me, Say not, “I am too young.” To whomever I send you, you shall go; whatever I command you, you shall speak. Have no fear before them, because I am with you to deliver you, says the LORD.
Then the LORD extended his hand and touched my mouth, saying,
See, I place my words in your mouth! This day I set you over nations and over kingdoms, to root up and to tear down, to destroy and to demolish, to build and to plant.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM
Psalm 71:1–2, 3–4a, 5–6ab, 15ab, 17 (6)
R. Since my mother’s womb, you have been my strength.
In you, O LORD, I take refuge; let me never be put to shame. In your justice rescue me, and deliver me; incline your ear to me, and save me.
R. Since my mother’s womb, you have been my strength.
Be my rock of refuge, a stronghold to give me safety, for you are my rock and my fortress. O my God, rescue me from the hand of the wicked.
R. Since my mother’s womb, you have been my strength.
For you are my hope, O LORD; my trust, O LORD, from my youth. On you I depend from birth; from my mother’s womb you are my strength.
R. Since my mother’s womb, you have been my strength.
My mouth shall declare your justice, day by day your salvation. O God, you have taught me from my youth, and till the present I proclaim your wondrous deeds.
R. Since my mother’s womb, you have been my strength.
SECOND READING
1 Peter 1:8–12
Beloved:
Although you have not seen Jesus Christ you love him; even though you do not see him now yet believe in him, you rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, as you attain the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
Concerning this salvation, prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and investigated it, investigating the time and circumstances that the Spirit of Christ within them indicated when he testified in advance to the sufferings destined for Christ and the glories to follow them. It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you with regard to the things that have now been announced to you by those who preached the Good News to you through the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels longed to look.
ALLELUIA
see John 1:7; Luke 1:17
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
He came to testify to the light, to prepare a people fit for the Lord.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GOSPEL
Luke 1:5–17
In the days of Herod, King of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah of the priestly division of Abijah; his wife was from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. Both were righteous in the eyes of God, observing all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren and both were advanced in years. Once when he was serving as priest in his division’s turn before God, according to the practice of the priestly service, he was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary of the Lord to burn incense. Then, when the whole assembly of the people was praying outside at the hour of the incense offering, the angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right of the altar of incense. Zechariah was troubled by what he saw, and fear came upon him. But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall name him John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. John will drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb, and he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah to turn their hearts toward their children and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous, to prepare a people fit for the Lord.”
Mass during the Day
FIRST READING
Isaiah 49:1–6
Hear me, O coastlands, listen, O distant peoples. The LORD called me from birth, from my mother’s womb he gave me my name. He made of me a sharp-edged sword and concealed me in the shadow of his arm. He made me a polished arrow, in his quiver he hid me. You are my servant, he said to me, Israel, through whom I show my glory.
Though I thought I had toiled in vain, and for nothing, uselessly, spent my strength, yet my reward is with the LORD, my recompense is with my God. For now the LORD has spoken who formed me as his servant from the womb, that Jacob may be brought back to him and Israel gathered to him; and I am made glorious in the sight of the LORD, and my God is now my strength! It is too little, he says, for you to be my servant, to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and restore the survivors of Israel; I will make you a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM
Psalm 139:1b–3, 13–14ab, 14c–15 (14)
R. I praise you, for I am wonderfully made.
O LORD, you have probed me, you know me: you know when I sit and when I stand; you understand my thoughts from afar. My journeys and my rest you scrutinize, with all my ways you are familiar.
R. I praise you, for I am wonderfully made.
Truly you have formed my inmost being; you knit me in my mother’s womb. I give you thanks that I am fearfully, wonderfully made; wonderful are your works.
R. I praise you, for I am wonderfully made.
My soul also you knew full well; nor was my frame unknown to you When I was made in secret, when I was fashioned in the depths of the earth.
R. I praise you, for I am wonderfully made.
SECOND READING
Acts 13:22–26
In those days, Paul said:
“God raised up David as king; of him God testified, I have found David, son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will carry out my every wish. From this man’s descendants God, according to his promise, has brought to Israel a savior, Jesus. 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.’
“My brothers, sons of the family of Abraham, and those others among you who are God-fearing, to us this word of salvation has been sent.”
ALLELUIA
see Luke 1:76
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
You, child, will be called prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GOSPEL
Luke 1:57–66, 80
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 things 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.
REFLECTIONS:
Birthdays are a special time to remember and give
thanks for the blessings that have come our way. Are you grateful for the
ways that God has worked in your life, even from your birth? In many churches
of the East and West the birth of John the Baptist is remembered on this
day. The friends of Zechariah and Elizabeth marveled at the wonderful way
in which God blessed them with a child. This child was destined by God
for an important mission. The last verses in the last book of the Old Testament,
taken from the prophet Malachi, speak of the Lords messenger, the prophet
Elijah who will return to turn the hearts of fathers to their children
and the hearts of children to their fathers (Malachi 4:6). We see the
beginning of the fulfillment of this word when the Angel Gabriel announced
to Zechariah the marvelous birth and mission of John the Baptist (Luke
1:17). When this newly born child was about to be named, as customary on
the eighth day, his relatives quibbled over what name to give him. (Dont
relatives today often do the same when the time comes for naming a newborn?)
This child, however has been named from above! And Elizabeth is firm in
her faith and determined to see that God be glorified through this child.
The name John means "the Lord is gracious". In the birth of John and in
the birth of Jesus the Messiah we see the grace of God breaking forth into
a world broken by sin and without hope. Johns miraculous birth shows the
mercy and favor of God in preparing his people for the coming of its Lord
and Savior, Jesus Christ.
John the Baptist's life was fueled by one burning passion to point
others to Jesus Christ and to the coming of God's kingdom. Scripture tells
us that John was filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother's womb
(Luke 1:15, 41) by Christ himself, whom Mary had just conceived by the
Holy Spirit. When Mary visited her cousin Elizabeth, John lept in the womb
of Elizabeth as they were filled with the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:41). The
fire of the Spirit dwelt in John and made him the forerunner of the coming
Messiah. John was led by the Spirit into the wilderness prior to his ministry
where he was tested and grew in the word of God. John's clothing was reminiscent
of the prophet Elijah (see Kings 1:8). John broke the prophetic silence
of the previous centuries when he began to speak the word of God to the
people of Israel. His message was similar to the message of the Old Testament
prophets who chided the people of God for their unfaithfulness and who
tried to awaken true repentance in them. Among a people unconcerned with
the things of God, it was his work to awaken their interest, unsettle them
from their complacency, and arouse in them enough good will to recognize
and receive Christ when he came.
What is the significance of John the Baptist and his message for our
lives? When God acts to save us he graciously fills us with his Holy Spirit
and makes our faith come "alive" to his promises. Each and every day the
Lord is ready to renew us in faith, hope, and love. Like John the Baptist,
the Lord invites each of us to make our life a free-will offering to God.
God wants to fill us with his glory all the days of our lives, from birth
through death. Renew the offering of your life to God and give him thanks
for his mercy and favor towards you.
"Lord Jesus, you bring hope and salvation to a world lost in sin, despair,
and suffering. Let your grace refresh and restore your people today in
the hope and joy of your great victory over sin and death."
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