Allow us to first set an applicable framework for at the moment’s solemnity.
We have fun three births within the Church all year long: that of Saint John the Baptist, that of the Virgin Mary and that of Jesus Christ (in chronological order). The three pregnancies happen with some supernatural peculiarity, an indication that we’re already within the fullness of time and a divine intervention of cosmic dimensions is being ready: 1) Mary is conceived naturally, however with out authentic sin; 2) John the Baptist can be conceived naturally, however, by divine intervention, a sterile and “superior age” girl turns into pregnant; 3) Jesus is conceived supernaturally with out the intervention of a person, by the work and style of the Holy Spirit. All three have been born with out authentic sin: Mary and Jesus from their conception; Saint John was conceived with him and was forgiven on the day of Mary’s visitation to Elizabeth, when the mom was crammed with the Holy Spirit (cf. Lk 1, 41 ff.).
The longest day and the shortest night time – which is at the moment – we dedicate to the prophet who acts as a bridge between the 2 testaments.
In line with a divine name, a vocation (much like that of Jeremiah, from the womb), the duty of the prophets was to assist the holy folks by way of testimony and exhortation to stay devoted and agency on the trail of the covenant that God had made. with them. An arduous, uncomfortable and martyr-like process in lots of instances, however important, particularly within the moments of best darkness.
Prophecy tends to look towards the long run, as Saint Paul explains at the moment: the arrival of the promised Messiah, salvation and style. And on this process, John the Baptist put an finish to the prophets in line with the primary covenant—the Outdated Testomony—as a result of he didn’t announce that he would come, however quite pointed it out in particular person: “That is the Lamb of God who takes away sin.” of the world” (Jn 1:29). With the Baptist the instances of the picture finish, to present technique to actuality; guarantees of the long run stop to level to the current; The symbols with which divine mercy was introduced turn out to be with Christ a palpable actuality, nothing symbolic.
Moreover, John would be the one who baptizes the Messiah and, from then on, would be the Anointed One, not with oil, however with the Holy Spirit who descended within the type of a dove.
His martyrdom to defend the reality already anticipates a redeeming blood that may free the whole world from sins.
All these concepts are mirrored in an unparalleled method within the preface to at the moment’s Mass, which has the title “the mission of the precursor”:
«It’s really simply and mandatory, it’s our obligation and salvation to present you thanks all the time and all over the place, Lord, Holy Father, almighty and everlasting God, by way of Christ our Lord.
In Saint John, his precursor, whom you consecrated as the best amongst these born of ladies, we proclaim your greatness.
As a result of his beginning was a trigger for nice pleasure, and even earlier than he was born he leaped for pleasure on the arrival of human salvation, he alone, amongst all of the prophets, confirmed the Lamb of redemption.
He baptized the identical creator of baptism, to sanctify the dwelling water, and deserved to present him the supreme testimony by shedding his blood.
Due to this fact, with the virtues of heaven we regularly acclaim you on earth, praising your glory with out ceasing: Holy, Holy, Holy…”
