We are John the Baptist to Our Age and Time

Reflection on Today's Readings and Solemnity of the Birth of John the Baptist, Wednesday 24th June, 2020
Texts: Is. 49:1-6; Ps. 139:1-3,13-14; Acts 13:22-26; Mtt. Luke 1:57-66.80
The birth of John the Baptist is filled with the wonder of God. His mother had his pregnance when hope had been lost. The joy that welcomed the birth of John the Baptist was more than just giving birth to a son; it is also a celebration of God's wonder and grace in the life of Elizabeth, his mother, and Zechariah, his father. Today's gospel says, "And her neighbours and kinsfolk heard that the Lord had shown  great mercy to her, and they rejoice with her".
The birth of John the Baptist reminds us that nothing is impossible to God. Angel Gabriel cited the example of the wonder done to Elizabeth to convince Blessed Virgin Mary that nothing is impossible to God when he said, "I tell you this too: your cousin Elizabeth also, in her old age, has conceived a son, and she whom people called barren is now in her sixth month, for nothing is impossible to God" (Luke1:36,37). This example was to make Blessed Virgin Mary believe that God, who overrulled the law of nature and made Elizabeth pregnant, could also make a virgin pregnant without a man. God is beyond time and nature, he is not bound by time and law of nature. The birth of John the Baptist reminds us that we should not give up on God at any time. Nothing is late for God.
Today's second reading reminds us that John was born as a herald and a witness to the coming of Christ. He was also born to reveal the Messiah. We are John the Baptist of our age; we are to the second coming of Christ what John the Baptist was to the first coming of Christ. We are heralds and witnesses to the second coming of Christ. John the Baptist was chosen to form the people of God and prepare them for his coming and to make know to them the Messiah. Hence, the  first reading says, "It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the preserved of Israel; I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth". Jesus Christ sent us to the whole world. We are to be light to all nations and reveal Christ, the saviour, to them.

Lord Jesus, give us grace to be your worthy heralds and witnesses in the world. Amen.

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke