Solemnity of the Nativity of St John the Baptist
Many wonderful things are happening in these readings. Even though we have heard them many times before, we might miss some especially important themes. In Jeremiah, it is important to notice that Jeremiah is prophesying that the covenant that God had established with David is now coming to an end, but Jeremiah is also prophesying the coming of a new covenant that will include all nations. A prophecy that is truly from God is always true. From this we can understand the covenant God made with David includes the covenants God made with Abraham and Moses and others. These covenants are still in force.
And true to form, God works in mysterious ways through people that are very unassuming and unknown. Zechariah and Elizabeth, an elderly couple past childbearing years, will now conceive a son. The greatest prophet that will introduce Jesus to the world. The elderly couple should remind us of another elderly couple, Abraham and Sarah. When the angel spoke to Zechariah, he asked for proof and was not able to speak. When the angel spoke to Mary she asked how. The world is about to change through simple Jewish people, but people who knew the prophecies and covenants of God and believed.
Peter is speaking directly to us from two thousand years ago. We who have not seen Jesus, believe. And we can believe because from the beginning of time God has remained true to the prophecies and covenants established thousand of years ago. The coming of Jesus is not something new, but always foretold. Peter announces that not only did the rulers of the world know what was happening but also the angels. This is God’s plan. And it was done on His time. And because it is of God, it is always new. God is always revealing Himself to us through His Son and of the teachings of the Holy Spirit. It is God’s plan that you will spend eternity with Him.
May the Lord bless you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen