Nativity of St. John the Baptist
Isaiah 49: 1- 6
| 49:1 | Pay attention, you islands, and listen closely, you far away peoples. The Lord has called me from the womb; from the womb of my mother, he has been mindful of my name. |
| 49:2 | And he has appointed my mouth as a sharp sword. In the shadow of his hand, he has protected me. And he has appointed me as an elect arrow. In his quiver, he has hidden me. |
| 49:3 | And he has said to me: “You are my servant, Israel. For in you, I will glory.” |
| 49:4 | And I said: “I have labored toward emptiness. I have consumed my strength without purpose and in vain. Therefore, my judgment is with the Lord, and my work is with my God.” |
| 49:5 | And now, says the Lord, who formed me from the womb as his servant, so that I may bring back Jacob to him, for Israel will not be gathered together, but I have been glorified in the eyes of the Lord and my God has become my strength, |
| 49:6 | and so he has said: “It is a small thing that you should be my servant so as to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and so as to convert the dregs of Israel. Behold, I have offered you as a light for the Gentiles, so that you may be my salvation, even to the furthest regions of the earth.” |
Acts 13: 22- 26
| 13:22 | And having removed him, he raised up for them king David. And offering testimony about him, he said, ‘I have found David, the son of Jesse, to be a man according to my own heart, who will accomplish all that I will.’ |
| 13:23 | From his offspring, according to the Promise, God has brought Jesus the Savior to Israel. |
| 13:24 | John was preaching, before the face of his advent, a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. |
| 13:25 | Then, when John completed his course, he was saying: ‘I am not the one you consider me to be. For behold, one arrives after me, the shoes of whose feet I am not worthy to loosen.’ |
| 13:26 | Noble brothers, sons of the stock of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, it is to you the Word of this salvation has been sent. |
Luke 1: 57- 66, 80
| 1:57 | Now the time for Elizabeth to give birth arrived, and she brought forth a son. |
| 1:58 | And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had magnified his mercy with her, and so they congratulated her. |
| 1:59 | And it happened that, on the eighth day, they arrived to circumcise the boy, and they called him by his father’s name, Zechariah. |
| 1:60 | And in response, his mother said: “Not so. Instead, he shall be called John.” |
| 1:61 | And they said to her, “But there is no one among your relatives who is called by that name.” |
| 1:62 | Then they made signs to his father, as to what he wanted him to be called. |
| 1:63 | And requesting a writing tablet, he wrote, saying: “His name is John.” And they all wondered. |
| 1:64 | Then, at once, his mouth was opened, and his tongue loosened, and he spoke, blessing God. |
| 1:65 | And fear fell upon all of their neighbors. And all these words were made known throughout all the hill country of Judea. |
| 1:66 | And all those who heard it stored it up in their heart, saying: “What do you think this boy will be?” And indeed, the hand of the Lord was with him. |
| 1:80 | And the child grew, and he was strengthened in spirit. And he was in the wilderness, until the day of his manifestation to Israel. |