God´s Word. John the Baptist, the Precursor.

Antoni BigCuore*

Location: Sp.Sp.
Date: 24.06.2018, Sunday at 11.18.

Announcement of the Gospel (Luke 3: 1-6 and Lk 1: 57-66).

Synopsis.
In the fifteenth year of the empire of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod administered to Galilee, his brother Philip, the regions of Itureia and Trachonitis, and Lysanias to Abilene; When Annas and Caiaphas were high priests, it was then that the word of God was addressed to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness.

And he went through all the region of Jordan, preaching a baptism of conversion for the forgiveness of sins, 4 as it is written in the Book of the words of the prophet Isaiah:
 "This is the voice of him who cries in the wilderness, 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be grounded, every mountain and hill shall be lowered; the tortuous passages will be straight and the uneven paths will be flattened. 6And all people shall see the salvation of God. '"

"The time of pregnancy was ended for Elizabeth, and she gave birth to a son." (Lk 1,57)
"His name is John, he wrote on a tablet, his father Zechariah (vs.63).
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 A. BIGCUORE´S REFLECTION: John the Baptist is the last of the Old Testament prophets. It is the dividing line between the Old and the New Covenant. With Jesus begins the New and Eternal Covenant.

John the Baptist, the forerunner, who prepares the ways of the Lord Jesus, practiced a baptism of conversion. Jesus baptizes in the fire of the Holy Spirit. And in an act of humility, even because Jesus was a Jew, therefore, he followed the Laws of the Torah, he was baptized by John the Baptist.

Jesus calls him "the greatest of the born of a woman." John the Baptist, son of Zechariah and Elizabeth, was one of the greatest prophets of the A.T. In the light of modern times, the Christian by the Sacrament of Reconciliation or Confession, it is as if he received from John the baptism of conversion. Without it, the Christian is not fit to receive the Holy Eucharist.

He announces what Isaiah already predicted about Jesus, the Son of Mary and Joseph.

"The texts of the birth of John the Baptist and Jesus show that God breaks with all the limits of human nature and faith to save the human being. At the same time, it gives space for the human being himself to question God's purposes and to understand this action. Even if it is not momentary, God knows how to wait for human time. John the Baptist opens the way for the coming Lord, becomes a light so that salvation can check the ends of the earth (Isa 49: 6) (see Opus Dei, page 108, P.Rogério Gomes, C.SsR June / 18).

And, we Christians today, are we doing what Jesus asked? Are we continuing on your mission to perfect the Kingdom of God on this earth?

Do we have a "new" speech to present to the world?
A happy and holy Sunday to all! Grace and Peace in your hearts!

(*) author is writer and Communicator of the Gospel of Jesus Christ for the whole planet. Get to know his webpage: Bem Viver Brazil Blog - antonibigcuore.blogspot.com and his poetic and philosophical link: www.recantodasletras.com.br/autores/antonibigcuore
(self-knowledge, spirituality and healthy life)