Saturday 4th August, 2012
St John Vianney. Jeremiah 26:11–16, 24. Lord, in your great love, answer me—Ps 68(69):15–16, 30–31, 33–34. Matthew 14:1–12.

  
Meditation: mp3 | podcast
Readings: Text | mp3 | podcast

The prophets prepare us to meet God’s saving Word.

John the Baptist foreshadows Jesus’ ministry, death and resurrection, and our salvation. Just as Herod is hesitant to kill John, so the Jewish leaders will hesitate to kill Jesus; but John is finally beheaded, and Jesus will be crucified.

Today we remember St John Vianney who prepared people to meet the challenge of the Gospel by gentle but direct methods. Let us try to open others to the following of the Gospel by making it plain in our daily lives that we believe. Lord Jesus, in the words of today’s psalm, let your tenderness turn to me and embrace me, so that others may also be led to the salvation you promise.