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Birth of John the Baptist
The Institute
June 24, 2015
A NEWBORN CHILD +++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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Birth
evokes hopes and dreams for a new child
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Parents
marvel at the mystery of life and envision the future of their little one
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Relatives
note family resemblances as a ton of photos are taken
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Often
an announcement card soon follows
THE BIRTH OF JOHN ++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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The
birth of John the Baptist in Lk cites great joy among Elizabeth’s neighbors
when the boy is presented to the Lord in the eighth day
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His
chosen name is unique in keep with his destiny and those gathered express fear
and awe
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“What, then, will this child be?” they wonder
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John’s
beginnings place him in the prophetic line of Is and Jer, who write of having
been called from the womb
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Such
insight is an awareness that God’s hand is ever in our lives
WHO HE WAS; WHO HE
WASN’T ++++++++++++++++
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Someone
once noted that the power of John the Baptist was that he knew who he was but,
more importantly, who he wasn’t
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He
was the forerunner and herald of another
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He
said nothing to commend himself to others, other than being a voice in the
desert
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In
his final witness in Jn, he states that no one can receive anything except what
is given from heaven
CONCLUSION ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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The
birth of John the Baptist celebrates the herald of Jesus and invites us to
imitate John
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The
invitation includes some humble reflection on who we are not
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That
we need God; that we need other people we know all to well in our recovering
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Perhaps,
at times, to need to follow John and say, “He
must increase; I must decrease” as we serve the Lord
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It
could well be part of our recovery
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