By Ginto K. Paulose –
Readings: Is 49:1-6; Acts 13:22-26; Lk 1:57-66, 80
These readings are more challenging and more appealing to our daily life. These readings motivate us to witness to Christ in our day-to-day life.
Today we celebrate the feast of the nativity of John the Baptist. This feast is an invitation for me to humble myself and realize the worth of myself and the others. The first and second readings help me to consider that all human beings are formed and called in the plan of God. We see in the first reading that God called the prophet before he was formed in the womb. God calls us each one of us in the same manner.
In the second reading, we hear St Paul saying how John the Baptist lived his call in this world and understood the real plan of God. Jesus Christ himself praises him. It is a clear invitation for me to realize the call within my call. The birth of John the Baptist was a challenge for many in the society.
We see there is slowly some change happening because first of all the name itself is symbolic and it asserts ownership from God. We see the birth of John the Baptist brought voice back to Zachariah his father. I too have to bring some changes and give voice to the oppressed and liberate them. It is a call which we all receive, to be the mouthpiece of those who cannot talk and to be the way and guide for those who are blind. So today it is good that we ask ourselves: ‘what is my call and how faithful am I to the call I have received?