The Catholic Calendar for Sunday, June 17, 2001
The Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time
Solemnity of the Birth of St. John the Baptist
Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Isaiah 49:1-6
Psalm 139:1-3,13-15
Acts 13:22-26
Luke 1:57-66,80
Full text: http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/index.htm
A Reflection on today's Scripture:
To those among you who are God fearing, the word of salvation has
been sent. (see: Acts 13:26)
Throughout salvation history God has sent many prophets "to prepare a
people fit for the Lord." The Israelites, chosen by God to make Him
known to all nations were also afflicted by sin, often wandering far
from the love and truth He had revealed to them through His
messengers.
But God, infinitely loving and patient, never abandoned them,
repeatedly sent prophets calling his people to repentance and renewed
faithfulness. These messengers were reviled, persecuted, often slain,
sometimes by the religious ruling class who themselves were
corrupted, who despised any challenger disturbing their authority and
consciences. The prideful, comfortably steeped in sin, tend to react
most vehemently when exposed.
We should thank God for raising up those such as John the Baptist,
and, in our own age, Pope John Paul II, men so imbued with the love
and truth of God that they fearlessly speak out despite ridicule and
danger. To this day, our God, though suffering from our most heinous
crimes, still sends prophets for our times. They come from all walks
of life but share in common the love and truth of God and the courage
to speak out against behavior that demeans human life and undermines
the social order: killing infants in utero; mocking marriage and the
God-established family ; promoting promiscuity, obscenity,
pornography, greed, exploitation, dishonesty and every corruption of
mind and heart.
Yet, silence in the face of moral degeneracy is perhaps an even
greater sin.
Father God,
through Your Son cleanse us of every sin and infidelity;
give us courage to uphold your truths
by speaking them in Your love. Amen.
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