GOD’S WORD FOR THE DAY (based on Catholic Liturgical Readings)
DATE: 24TH JUNE 2017
SOLEMNITY OF THE NATIVITY OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST
FIRST READING: Isaiah 49:1-6
PSALM: Psalm 139:1-3, 13-15
SECOND READING: Acts 13:22-26
GOSPEL: Luke1:57-66, 80
THEME: BORN FOR A REASON
I would always walk past a trunk of tree lying in the bush nearby and all that my eyes could see was a piece of wood destined to rot. One day, a brother-priest set eyes on the same trunk and saw in it a tabernacle. With his chisel and hammer, he carved a beautiful tabernacle out of that wood and now that trunk is destined to sit in the sanctuary of the house of the Lord.
What every new born baby would turn out to be in future is unknown to the human mind but for the divine mind everything is clear and well planned. God does not play lottery up there in heaven and leave the work of his hands to chance. No one comes into this world by accident.
The First Reading, which is one of the four “servant of the Lord” oracles establishes the divine purpose attached to everyone sent into the world. The author writes, “The LORD called me before I was born, while I was in my mother’s womb he named me…”(Isa 49:1). In this text, God speaks of having a blueprint for the life of his servant. In other words, there was a purpose for him coming into the world.
Similarly, in the life of John the Baptist whose birth the Church celebrates today, one can discern a divine purpose underpinning his existence. His parents insisted that his name should be John, in view of the divine role he was to play. John himself, in the Second Reading, is quoted as saying, “What do you suppose that I am? I am not he (i.e. the saviour). No, but one is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of the sandals on his feet” (Act 13:25).
Divine destiny has been placed on each one of us. We must discover it and live it joyfully. Once the purpose has been discerned, one should mark out a straight pathway to its fulfilment, looking neither to the right nor the left. It is good to be inspired by someone but to imitate someone is to lose your originality and to become a copy of another original.
The question, “What will this child turn out to be?” (Lk. 1:66), is one worth personalising and reflecting upon. What am I becoming? Am I happy with the way my life is unfolding? God has a purpose for every one he brings to this earth and until one discovers that purpose, one would live an unfulfilled life.
PRAYER: Eternal Father, before I was conceived in my mother’s womb you knew me. You planned for my entrance into this world and you sustain my life with your grace. I yield completely to your divine will and pray that your purpose may be fulfilled in my life. For the sake of Christ, I pray. Amen
Andrews Obeng, svd
DIVINE WORD MISSIONARIES
BIBLICAL PASTORAL MINISTRY
(Ghana Province)
“May the darkness of sin and the night of unbelief vanish before the light of the Word and the Spirit of grace. And may the heart of Jesus live in the hearts of all people” (St. Arnold Janssen).