he is considered to be the final and most vital prophet.

Jesus himself identifies John as "Elijah who is to come"

In the Gospels, he is portrayed as the precursor or forerunner of Jesus.

The New Testament, John anticipated a messianic figure greater than himself.

 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

Isaiah 49:1-6

Listen to me,

O islands, pay attention, people from distant lands. The Lord 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 the Lord, and my reward was with my God.

 

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

And now the Lord 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, 14c-15

I praise you, for I am wonderfully made.

 

＊＊＊ 2nd Reading ＊＊＊

 

＊＊＊ 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,  "But no one in your family has that name!"

and they made signs to his father for the name he wanted to give him.

 

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 hill country 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;

and he lived in the desert until the day when he appeared openly in Israel.

 

Gospel Reflection ：

God is gracious. 

Today's gospel reading presents the birth of John the Baptist, a child of promise whose name ohn,

or in Hebrew, Yohanan-means "God is gracious" or "God favors His people."

This name, hosen by God Himself, reveals the profound truth of grace at the heart of John's life and mission.

Elizabeth and Zechariah, once barren and silenced, are now blessed

with a child-a living estament to God's unmerited favor

that transcends human limitations. When Zechariah writes, His name is John,"

 

his speech is restored-a sign that grace not only heals but also renews. John's role is to prepare the way for Christ,

the embodiment of divine grace. As his name Indicates, John reminds us that God's grace is not earned but freely given.

In times of doubt or silence, let us remember that God's grace is always at work,

bringing life and hope where there seems to be none. His name is John-God is gracious.