Almighty God, by whose providence your servant John the Baptist was wonderfully born, and sent to prepare the way of your Son our Savior by preaching repentance: Make us so to follow his teaching and holy life, that we may truly repent according to his preaching; and, following his example, constantly speak the truth, boldly rebuke vice, and patiently suffer for the truth's sake; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
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The Readings
Isaiah 40:1-11 + Acts 13:14b-26 + Luke 1:57-80
... and they were going to name him Zechariah after his father. But his mother said, “No; he is to be called John.” They said to her, “None of your relatives has this name.” Then they began motioning to his father to find out what name he wanted to give him. He asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And all of them were amazed. Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue freed, and he began to speak, praising God.
~ Luke 1:59-64
Saints are typically celebrated on the day of their death (their "heavenly birthdays"). There are only a few exceptions where births are commemorated on the church calendar. Of course, we celebrate the nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ every December 25, and many will commemorate the birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary on September 8. In addition to these we have this day's feast, closely linked with both Jesus and Mary--the birth of John the Baptist.
From a sermon for this feast, by St. Augustine:
"John marks the frontier between the Old and the New Testaments. The Lord speaks of him as a boundary line: 'The law and the prophets are valid until John the Baptist.' He represents the Old Testament and at the same time introduces the New. His parents were old, in keeping with his first role: while yet in his mother's womb he was saluted as a prophet, in recognition of his second. Although he was not yet born at the time of Mary's visitation, he leaped in his mother's womb. His mission was made clear, even before he was born. He was revealed as Christ's precursor, before he so much as saw him. These divine mysteries transcend man's feeble understanding. When at last he was born and received his name, his father's tongue was loosened . . . Zachary's tongue was loosened, because a voice was born."
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Birth of John the Baptist, by Jacopo Pontormo
(the still mute Zechariah is seen in the corner, confirming in writing Elizabeth's instruction for his name)
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Closing Prayer
Lord God of the prophets, we praise you for sending John as the Forerunner of your promised Christ. Help us to heed his voice, and the voice of everyone who cries out to point us back to you; help us to be open to your Spirit, that our voices also may proclaim the coming of the One who is our hope, even Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
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