A
nice feature of smartphones – calendar with alarms – remember to send that
birthday card.
Church
calendar celebrates 3 birthdays.
Jesus
- Christmas Dec 25 - preceded by
Annunciation March 25
Mary
- September 8 - preceded by Immaculate
Conception Dec 8
John
the Baptist - June 24 - 6 months before birth of Jesus
See
how important this Solemnity is - even replaces Sunday.
Baptist - last of great line of OT prophets – Isaiah,
Jer, Ez
Son
of Eliz and Zech - temple priest – why
is he in the desert? now a new temple.
- Points the way to Christ - Remember story of David when ark brought to
Jerusalem – leapt for joy - leaps for
joy inside his mother Elizabeth when Mary approaches carrying Jesus -
behold the Lamb of God - how
can we point the way - actions, not
words - easy here, what about outside
here?
-
Humble person - I am not worthy to untie
his sandals - he must increase - I must decrease Timing – after longest day – days getting
shorter. It is not about me - it is
about him!!! Major mistake to compare to
others instead to God - Sometimes – say
- I have everything together, my life in perfect order, need to improve nothing
about myself. In my humility - I
admit my need for God, I need a Savior, I am a sinner - repent.
-
Committed to the truth - not afraid to lay down his life for the truth To tell King Herod the truth A Long line:
June
22 -
St. John Fisher & St. Thomas More
June
29 - St. Peter & St. Paul
June
30 - First Martyrs of the Church in Rome
July
3 - Thomas the Apostle
To
point the way - to be humble - to be committed to the truth
So
we say – St. John the Baptist – pray for us!
