＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

Isaiah 49:1-6*

 Listen to me, O islands, 

Pay attention, peoples from distant lands. Yahweh called me from my mother’s womb; he pronounced my name before I was born. He made my mouth like a sharpened sword. He hid me in the shadow of his hand. He made me into a polished arrow set apart in his quiver.

 He said to me, “You are Israel, my servant, Through you I will be known.”  “I have labored in vain,” I thought and spent my strength for nothing.” Yet what is due me was in the hand of Yahweh, and my reward was with my God. 

I am important in the sight of Yahweh, and my God is my strength.

And now Yahweh has spoken, he who formed me in the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him, to gather Israel to him.  He said: “It is not enough that you be my servant, to restore the tribes of Jacob, to bring back the remnant of Israel. I will make you the light of the nations, that my salvation will reach to the ends of the earth.”

 

Ps 139:1b-3, 13-14ab, 14-15

I praise you for I am wonderfully made.

 

     ＊＊＊ 2nd Reading ＊＊＊

Acts 13:22-26

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊      

Luke 1:57-66, 80

 When the time came for Elizabeth, she gave birth to a son.   Her neighbors and relatives heard that the merciful Lord had done a wonderful thing for her and they rejoiced with her. When on the eighth day they came to attend the circumcision of the child, they wanted to name him Zechariah after his father.   But his mother said, “Not so; he shall be called John.”  

They said to her, “No one in your family has that name”;  and they asked the father by means of signs for the name he wanted to give.  Zecha­riah asked for a writing tablet and wrote on it, “His name is John,” and they were very surprised.   Immediately Zecha­riah could speak again and his first words were in praise of God.  A holy fear came on all in the neighborhood, and throughout the Hills of Judea the people talked about these events.   

All who heard of it pondered in their minds and wondered, “What will this child be?” For they understood that the hand of the Lord was with him.  As the child grew up, he was seen to be strong in the Spirit; he lived in the desert till the day when he appeared openly in Israel.

 

Gospel Reflection：

The birth of John the Baptist is surrounded by miraculous signs and wonders. No wonder the people around his birth felt an excitement they haven’t felt before. God in His heaven is working overdrive and interfering in human history. John’s birth signifies that the fulfillment of God’s promise is near at hand.

For John comes from the priestly class. His father Zechariahis from the Levite tribe. After David, all kings of Israel are anointed by a priest. Jesus who will be born three months after the birth of John belongs to the kingly line of David by virtue of Joseph. He needs His priest to anoint Him. John the Baptist fulfills that role in the baptism of the Lord.