Saturday, 23rd DECEMBER St John of Kanty, priest. He asks us to do His Will.

Just Smiling Story.

The Jew says.

A Catholic, a Protestant, a Muslim and a Jew were in a discussion during a dinner.

Catholic: "I have a large fortune… I am going to buy Citibank!"

Protestant: "I am very wealthy and will buy General Motors!"

Muslim: "I am a fabulously rich prince… I intend to purchase Microsoft!"

They all wait for the Jew to speak…

The Jew stirs his coffee, places the spoon neatly on the table, takes a sip of his coffee,
looks at them and casually says: "I'm not selling!!"

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Saturday, 23rd DECEMBER
St John of Kanty, priest
Luke 1:57–66

On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they would have named him Zechariah after his father, but his mother said, "Not so; he shall be called John." And they said to her, "None of your kindred is called by this name." And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he would have him called. And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, "His name is John."

They wanted to name the baby after his father, Zechariah, because that was what people did at the time. They were expecting Zechariah to do exactly what everyone else did. They didn't know the story behind the birth of St John. They didn't know what the Angel had revealed to Zechariah. They didn't know why he was dumb. Nevertheless, these busybodies wanted to name the baby after his father because that was 'what people did'. But God doesn't ask us to do 'what people do', He asks us to do His Will.

Zechariah had been dumb for nine months. In that period he had time to meditate upon the instructions of the Lord. So, when he had to do what the Angel had said, he didn't waste time writing explanations. He went straight to the point: "His name is John"… Full stop! As if saying: 'Mind your own business'. And after he had obeyed, he recovered the use of his speech...

Some people expect us to do something because that is the custom or their project or because that's 'what people do'. But God doesn't follow the same pattern. 

The father of St Francis of Assisi didn't allow him to follow his vocation for a long time. But it didn't change the resolution of the saint. The father of St Francis of Sales had already arranged a marriage for him when he revealed his intention to become a priest. The argument lasted for years. 

St Louis Bertran had to run away from home at the age of 18 because his parents wouldn't allow him to become a friar. 

Eventually the three of them managed to solve the problem and their parents felt proud of their holy children, but it took years and great suffering on both parts. It all happened because people had plans 'for others': for their children, their friends…

 Mary, Virgin Most Prudent, I pray that, through your intercession, many may understand how God's plans are always better and that they may help others to follow God's Will.

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Commentary of the day :

Saint Augustine (354-430), Bishop of Hippo (North Africa) and Doctor of the Church
Sermon 293,3 ; for the Nativity of John the Baptist; PL 38, 1327 (trans. cf breviary 24/06)

"His tongue was freed and he spoke, blessing God"

When at last John was born and received his name, his father's tongue was loosened. Consider the symbolic significance of what happened and contemplate this great mystery: Zachary fell silent and lost the power of speech until John, the Lord's precursor, was born and restored his speech. Is not Zachary's silence a hidden prophecy, veiled and, as it were, pent up before Christ could be proclaimed? At his coming the prophecy was made known; it was made clear when he came as had been foretold.

Thus Zachary's speech was restored at John's birth. This event is like the rending of the veil of the temple when Christ was crucified (Mt 27:51). If John had not proclaimed another's coming, he could not have restored his father's speech. Zachary's tongue was loosened because a voice was born. Would not John later say: "I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness"? (Jn 1:23).

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