Monday, August 29, 22nd Week in Ordinary Time
MEMORIAL OF THE MARTYRDOM OF JOHN THE BAPTIST
The drunken oath of a king with a shallow sense of honor, a seductive dance, and the hateful heart of a queen combined to bring about the martyrdom of John the Baptist. The greatest of prophets suffered the fate of so many Old Testament prophets before him: rejection and martyrdom. The “voice crying in the desert” did not hesitate to accuse the guilty, did not hesitate to speak the truth. This great religious reformer was sent by God to prepare the people for the Messiah. His vocation was one of selfless giving. “I am baptizing you with water, for repentance, but the one who is coming after me is mightier than I. I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire” (Matthew 3:11). Scripture tells us that many people followed John looking to him for hope, perhaps in anticipation of some great messianic power. John never allowed himself the false honor of receiving these people for his own glory. He knew his calling was one of preparation. When the time came, he led his disciples to Jesus: “The next day John was there again with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God.’ The two disciples heard what he said and followed Jesus” (John 1:35-37). It is John the Baptist who has pointed the way to Christ. John’s life and death were a giving over of self for God and other people. The celebrates two featss dedicated to John the Baptist during the year - his nativity on June 24, and his beheading.
Readings for today's Mass:
www.usccb.org/bible/readings/082911.cfm
No OR today.
No events announced for the Holy Father today.
The Holy Father has accepted the resignation of Cardinal John Patrick Foley as Grand Master of the Equestrian Order
of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, who has reached canonical retirement age, and named Mons. Edmond O'Brien,
till now Archbishop of Baltimore, to be the Pro-Grand Master. Earlier this year, Cardinal Foley effectively retired
back to his native Philadelphia after an acceleration of the leukemia first diagnosed in 2009.
[Modificato da TERESA BENEDETTA 29/08/2011 14:26]