Saturday 4 August 2018
St John Vianney.
Jeremiah 26:11-16, 24. Psalm 68(69):15-16, 30-31, 33-34. Matthew 14:1-12.
Lord, in your great love, answer me—Psalm 68(69):15-16, 30-31, 33-34.
‘This man does not deserve to die.’
Today we read of John the Baptist bearing his final witness to God in the giving of his blood, shed in martyrdom. How faithful a life he had lived. Filled with the Holy Spirit when still unborn, he bore witness to the presence of the Lord in Mary.
In the fullness of time, he appeared to bear witness to the One who was about to show himself. When he did show himself, John pointed him out as the Lamb of God and sent his own disciples to him, saying, ‘He must increase, while I must decrease.’
Finally, John accepted imprisonment and death for the love of God. How rare an example of life-long fidelity.
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