Monday, June 24 : Saint Irenaeus of Lyons

Speaking of John, we read in Luke: “He shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. And he shall go before Him in the spirit and power of Elias, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord (Lk 1:15-17). For whom, then, did he prepare a people, and in the sight of what Lord was he made great? Truly of Him who said that John was something “even more than a prophet” and that “among those born of women none is greater than John the Baptist” (Mt 11:9.11). For he made ready a people for the Lord’s advent, warning his fellow-servants, and preaching repentance to them, so that they might receive forgiveness from the Lord when He should arrive, after being converted to Him from whom they had been alienated because of their sins and transgressions ( … ) Yes, “in his mercy”, God, “the Day-spring from on high, has looked upon us and appeared to those who sat in darkness and the shadow of death, and has guided our feet into the way of peace” (Lk 1:78-79) just as Zacharias, recovering from the state of dumbness he had suffered because of his unbelief, blessed God in a new way when he had been filled with a new spirit. For all things have entered upon a new phase by the fact that the Word, after a new manner, has accomplished the purpose of his coming in the flesh, that He might return to friendship with God the human flesh that had departed from God. And this is why men were taught to worship God after a new fashion.

Roman Extraordinary (Tridentine) Daily Readings – rosary,team