Saints + Scripture: Nativity of Saint John the Baptist

'Tis the Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist (six months B.C.): Baptist-link ūnus, Baptist-link duo, Wikipedia-link Nativity, & Wikipedia-link Baptist.

Commentary: Wayback Machine '19. Son of Ss. Zechariah [23 September] & Elizabeth [5 November].

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist: Mass during the Day
The Book of Isaiah, chapter forty-nine, verses one thru six;
Psalm One Hundred Thirty-nine (R/. fourteen), verses one(b), two, & three; thirteen & fourteen(a/b); & fourteen(c) & fifteen;
The Acts of the Apostles, chapter thirteen, verses twenty-two thru twenty-six;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter one, verses fifty-seven thru sixty-six & eighty.

Commentary: Gospel reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):

Friends, today’s Gospel celebrates the birth of John the Baptist. I think it’s fair to say that you cannot really understand Jesus without understanding John, which is precisely why all four Evangelists tell the story of the Baptist as a kind of overture to the story of Jesus.

John did not draw attention to himself. Rather, he presented himself as a preparation, a forerunner, a prophet preparing the way of the Lord. He was summing up much of Israelite history, but stressing that this history was open-ended, unfinished.

And therefore, how powerful it was when, upon spying Jesus coming to be baptized, he said, "Behold the Lamb of God." No first-century Israelite would have missed the meaning of that: behold the one who has come to be sacrificed. Behold the sacrifice, which will sum up, complete, and perfect the temple. Moreover, behold the Passover Lamb, who sums up the whole meaning of that event and brings it to fulfillment.

And this is why John says, "He must increase; I must decrease." In other words, the overture is complete, and now the great opera begins. The preparatory work of Israel is over, and now the Messiah will reign.

Video reflection by Deacon Clarence McDavid (U.S. Conf. of Catholic Bishops): Daily Reflection.

Video reflection by Curtis Mitch (St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology): Daily Reflection.

Video reflection by Doctor Tim Gray (Augustine Institute/Formed.org): Easter Reflection.

Mass Readings—Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist: Vigil
The Book of Jeremiah, chapter one, verses four thru ten;
Psalm Seventy-one (R/. six[b]), verses one & two, three & four(a), five & six(a/b), & fifteen(a/b) & seventeen;
The First Letter of Peter, chapter one, verses eight thru twelve;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter one, verses five thru seventeen.

Scripture Study—Day 91: False Peak, Day 11
The Book of Jeremiah, chapter thirteen, verses twenty thru twenty-seven.

Commentary: The Jars Filled with Wine (Jeremiah, 13:20-27).

Papal Quote o' the Day

"An unexpected child, Saint John the Baptist, called out to the people. He told them to prepare for a heavenly announcement, an invitation to universal rebirth."
—Pope St. John XXIII (1881-1963, r. 1958-1963; feast: 11 October)

Mother Teresa Quote o' the Day

"Mary showed complete trust in God by agreeing to be used as an instrument in His plan. She trusted Him in spite of her nothingness, becaue she knew He could do great things in her & through her. Once she said 'yes' to God, Mary never doubted. She was just a young woman, but she belonged to God & nothing nor anyone could separate her from Him."
—St. Teresa of Calcutta, M.C. (1910-1997, feast: 5 September)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"Prayer must be persistent. Persistence denotes faith."
—St. Pius of Pietrelcina, O.F.M. Cap. (1887-1968, feast: 23 September)