Nativity of St. John the Baptist
Scripture:
Isaiah 49:1-6
Acts 13:22-26
Luke 1:57-66, 80
Reflection:
The Lord called Me from the womb; From the body of My mother He named Me. Isaiah 49:1
We see that the vocation of the Baptist was God’s idea rather than John’s. He was chosen from before birth to be the precursor of Jesus. God is the Great Micro Manger! “In whose hand is the life of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind?” Job 12:10 Our lives are designer lives by the great Potter! “O Lord, You are our Father, We are the clay, and You our potter; And all of us are the work of Your hand. Is 64:8 Our life has carefully planned out by our Divine Potter. The people with whom I live are not just accidents. God is not the God of accidents! He is a designer God, Who from eternity carefully and skillfully sets up our lives where we can best fulfill His plans!
Now there are many mysteries in all this because “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts. Is 55:8 When we are in situations where we cannot do anything about it, we can be sure this is the way God planes it. He never causes evil, but will allow it to bring good! Jesus suffered greatly in the Garden of Olives where He was soon to experience the greatest evil ever inflicted on human nature! saying, “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.” Lk 22:42
Providence is a Scriptural word meaning “God will see to it” It comes originally from Hebrew “The Lord Will Provide” Gen 22:14 This is where the angel holds back the knife in Abraham’s hand and provides a lamb for the sacrifice instead of Isaak. “He said, “Do not stretch out your hand against the lad, and do nothing to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.” Gen 22:12 One of our greatest spiritual needs is to trust God’s gentle care in the scary situations of our life! “In whose hand is the life of every living thing.”
Fr. Bob Weiss, C.P. preaches Parish Missions and is a member of the Passionist Community in Louisville, Kentucky.