June 24 - Prayer on the Nativity of St. John the Baptist

June 24 - Prayer on the Nativity of St. John the Baptist

O greatest of men born of woman, before you were formed in the womb the Lord called you; while still in this cave you leapt for joy at His presence come to you… a sharp, two-edged sword He made you to hail the coming Messiah, the Light in our midst, the New Covenant born of the Old – how shall we humble ourselves as you have done; how shall our call be realized in flesh and blood as was your own? Pray, dear brother, that from darkness we be taken, from blindness and inability to speak we be rescued, that the Word among us we may know and raise our voices to proclaim His salvation to all.

June 24 - The Nativity of St. John the Baptist

(Is.49:1-6; Ps.139:1-3,13-15; Acts 13:22-26: Lk.1:57-66,80) "I will make you a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth." The voice of one crying in the wilderness, he who hails the coming of the Lord, is born today. This voice speaks of the Word among us. And from before his birth he is called, in the womb he is formed, to proclaim with the sword of truth God's salvation for His people. "Surely the hand of the Lord was with him," and surely we find the grace of God by walking the path he blazed for us in the desert; for surely that way leads to the glory who is the Son of David. Yes, "to us this word of salvation has been sent." To us this light has been brought forth. We "distant peoples" hear now the call of the voice which pierces our souls: Make straight the way of the Lord! The tongue now speaks; no longer silenced, no longer hidden, it has risen from "the depths of the earth" to plainly declare the coming of Christ. Yes, in the womb of the Old Testament the Lord wonderfully formed the salvation of Israel, probing and scrutinizing all its ways and preparing it for birth in the light of day. And now what He hid in His quiver He shoots forth to wound with amazement the hearts who have waited to hear the Word of life. "John heralded His coming by proclaiming a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel"; by his voice a place is made for the Savior, Jesus. At the turning point of the history of salvation John stands. He has come to direct souls to the Promised Land. For this he was made. To this call he answers – to lead us to the Son of Man. The old is passed away; now all is made new. Fulfillment has come. The womb has brought forth. The time of salvation is here. For He through whom time and the earth and heavens were made is now come to wash even the dirt from our feet. Listen to the voice which hails the Word of God in our midst. His call is for all ears; the light shines for all "who are God-fearing." Your recompense is upon you now. You, too, make known His light to the world. Written, read & chanted by James Kurt; produced by Carie Fortney. Music by Carie Fortney; used by permission. ******* O LORD, your Word of salvation you speak through the mouth of John, whom you have blessed with your might and power. YHWH, your Word of salvation goes forth to the ends of the earth, proclaimed through the mouth of John, the fulfillment of the prophets of Israel. In his birth what is old passes away, and what is new comes. Now the light of the nations enters this house. Loose our tongues to declare your glory, dear LORD. You who have formed us in the depths of the earth, in the womb of the Church, now gather us into your arms that we might be raised unto the glory of your Son, brought into union with you who are our Father and our God. O may we share your Name as we are born into your kingdom! Let your hand be upon us for good, O LORD; let your will be accomplished in us as it has been in John. Let all souls know that it is you who probe us and know us, you who understand all our thoughts and ways. May all our thoughts and actions be in accord with your own, and so in all things let us declare to all that your Son has come – O let us be His servants!

June 23 - Tuesday of the 12th Week in Ordinary Time, Year II

(2Kgs.19:9-11,14-21,31-36; Ps.48:2-4,9-11; Mt.7:6,12-14) "I will shield and save this city for my own sake, and for the sake of my servant David." Brothers and sisters, "renowned is He as a stronghold," the Lord our God. And faithfully does He watch over His chosen one. Our psalmist proclaims, "Great is the Lord and wholly to be praised in the city of our God." He extols the glory of Mount Zion, of Jerusalem, "the city of the great King," for the blessings of God upon it. Here is His temple and so here it is we "ponder [His] kindness"; here it is we take refuge, finding "the narrow gate" that leads to Him and to His salvation. In our first reading today the Lord gives evidence of the way in which He protects His children; He reveals that He will not "give what is holy to dogs or toss [His] pearls before swine." The king of Assyria has indeed "laid waste the nations and their lands," including the Northern Kingdom of Israel. He has acted with seemingly invincible power, and now he has come to the Lord's chosen city to destroy it as well. And though this Jerusalem, where His temple does dwell, and the chosen tribes of Judah (through whom His Savior shall come) shall not be protected forever… though this earthly tent shall so soon be ransacked and taken into exile itself, today the Lord shows how His promise, His covenant with them, will never be taken away. Though the temple's walls be one day destroyed, His spiritual kingdom, His New Jerusalem is eternally blessed in heaven. Hezekiah indeed "enter[s] through the narrow gate" of prayer. Taking the threatening letter from Sennacherib in his hand, "he [goes] up to the temple of the Lord, and spreading it out before Him, he pray[s] in the Lord's presence." He calls out, "O Lord, our God, save us from the power of this man, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you alone, O Lord, are God." And the Lord listens. He takes pity on His "virgin daughter Zion… for out of Jerusalem shall come a remnant, and from Mount Zion, survivors." And by the hand of the Lord the king of Assyria is turned back. Brothers and sisters, "Jerusalem will not be handed over" to the king of this world. Upon His Church His blessed protection remains. Through Judah and David, the king whose city is Jerusalem, Jesus has come – the Lord's promise is fulfilled and the remnant now does thrive. Here is the Temple not made by human hands; here is the narrow gate through whom all must enter paradise… here is "the joy of all the earth," God's "holy mountain" in our midst; and on His heights and in these walls, we are shielded and saved forever. ******* O LORD, if we enter through the narrow gate, we shall come into your presence, and you shall always fight for us. YHWH, how shall we find our way to your holy City, on which your protection rests, which shall always be saved from the violence of this world? No kingdom can conquer your Church; in her let us make our home. On your holy mountain, the fairest of heights, let us find our place, O LORD. To your Temple let us come, stretching out our arms in prayer. And you shall listen to our pleas, and your help will be with us quickly – you will be our stronghold. And so, we will praise you forever, for you teach us the way that leads to your House; in your heavenly kingdom we shall ever remain. O LORD, let us be holy as you are holy, as all your children are holy. Let us be as those who walk the narrow path to you, who find joy in the difficulties present there. Dwelling in faith we shall not fear the threats of the mighty, for you who are above all are our shield and guide.

June 22 - Prayer to Sts. John Fisher and Thomas More

O kings of martyrdom who indeed laid down your very lives rather than heed the dictates of an evil emperor, whose loyalty to the Lord and the Church He established stands unparalleled, your defense of the faith and conscience written in the blood you shed – pray that the mediocrity, the utter inability to stand for truth in this relativist age, will be defeated by souls founded firmly in the Spirit of Christ and in the Cross He offers forth for our salvation. Pray for leaders of Church and State to embrace your singular devotion.

June 22 - Prayer to St. Paulinus of Nola

O lover of poverty who gave up great wealth to find her abiding within the walls of your heart, a heart which turned thus to God's people and the shepherding of them with great care – pray that we too may hear and come to realize in our lives the call of our Lord to give up all things for the sake of the kingdom, to be attached to nothing but service of the poor, service of God Himself in the humble of this earth; pray that like you we may have the heart of a shepherd, of a laborer in Jesus' vineyard, united in the Spirit with all God's children with whom we share His Heaven.