A WORD FOR TODAY 24 JUNE 2020

A WORD FOR TODAY 24 JUNE 2020


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A WORD FOR TODAY

BORN TO WITNESS FOR CHRIST

but his mother said, Not so; he shall be called John. And they said to her, None of your kindred is called by this name. And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he would have him called. And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, His name is John. And they all marveled. (Luke 1:61-63)

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Nativity (Birth) of Saint John the Baptist. He was the forerunner of our Lord Jesus Christ. He came to prepare the way before Jesus came and He was the voice crying in the wilderness calling people repentance. He fulfilled His mission with dedication and in the end He paid the supreme sacrifice of martyrdom for the sake of the Truth.*_

Birth is something that happens, because God has willed it from the foundation of the world to make human beings in His own image and likeness. The birth of a child ordinarily brings joy in the heart of parents, relatives and friends and even community. It not only gives the family the cause to rejoice, it also makes them to speculate about what the child will be in the future._

The parents of John, Zechariah and Elizabeth were happy with his birth, because he was the answer to their prayers after waiting for a long time before he came to be born. Yes, John was born to them, but he has a mission for Christ and for the world. He was going to preach the message of the Good News for the salvation of the world. He was called from his mother's womb just like Isaiah explained in the first reading of today. Our birth is not an accident, but we were born for a purpose and it is to witness for God in this life and draw souls closer to Him.

Saint Paul in the second reading from the Acts of the Apostles reminds the people of what the Lord did to bring us salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He noted that John came before our Lord to preach the baptism of repentance and he did it in humility without usurping the position of the Lord himself. We must learn to serve the Lord in humility always.

In the gospel reading we hear the story of how John came to be born and how he was given the name John as instructed by the angel who brought the good news of his birth to Zechariah his father as he was offering sacrifice as a priest in the temple.

John the baptist was born for a mission and he accepted his role in our salvation history and he played it with humility. He pointed out Jesus the lamb of God to the people and He also died for the sake of Jesus. We must learn from him to love Jesus and to be ready to serve Him. We must let Him make use of us to His own glory.

We were born to witness for Christ and for that to happen we must submit ourselves to God and let Him make use of us as He made use of saint John the Baptist. We must proclaim Christ in words and deeds and also we must be ready to die for Him so as to live with Him in heaven. Humility is the key when it comes to serving God, for without it we may not be able to proclaim Jesus as the Lord. Do not let your birth and life be a waste, make use of your time on earth to witness for Jesus in words and actions here on earth and you will be ready to enjoy eternal life in His presence in heaven on the last day.

Good morning dearest one. Smile😊as you do your work and do have a miraculous day. May the joy of your birth move you to place yourself at the service of God and humanity always. Amen. *And may the Almighty God bless you: the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Meditation: Isaiah 49:1-6/Psalm 139:1-3,13-15/Acts 13:22-26/Luke 1:57-66,80

Watch-Word: I thank you who wonderfully made me.

Life becomes meaningful when you use your time here on earth to serve God who gave you life and also to let your life make an impact in the people around you.

(Wednesday of the twelfth week in the Ordinary Time. Year II)