Festival of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist
Posted on June 24, 2024 by under
Scripture: St. Matthew 5:43-48 (NKJV)
5:43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? 48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.”
Devotion
Christ perfectly performed everything which He commands in this sermon. We were once carnally-minded enemies of God (Rom. 8:7). Christ did not hate us, but loved us so much that He died for our sins. As He hung upon the cross He blessed those who cursed Him, praying that His heavenly Father would forgive those who were spitefully persecuting Him (Luke 23:34). His thoughts, words, and actions toward us are perfect, just as His Father is perfect.
Through Baptism, enemies of God are turned into sons of God. Instead of receiving the judgment we deserve, we are forgiven. This changes how we act toward our own enemies. Our lives reflect who our Father is and how He and His Son have treated us. Having been loved, we love; having been blessed, we bless; having been spared condemnation, we do not condemn; having been forgiven, we forgive.
After John the Baptist baptized people for the remission of their sins, he then instructed them to bear fruits worthy of repentance. He severely rebuked the Pharisees and Sadducees, who wanted to claim God as their Father, but hypocritically judged both their enemies and their Jewish brethren.
Collect: O Lord God, Heavenly Father, Who, through Thy servant John the Baptist, didst bear witness that Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God Which taketh away the sin of the world and that all who believe in Him shall inherit eternal life: We humbly pray Thee to enlighten us by Thy Holy Spirit that we may at all times find comfort and joy in this witness, continue steadfast in the true faith, and at last with all believers attain unto eternal life; through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Collect for the Fourth Sunday after Trinity Sunday
Grant, O Lord, we beseech Thee, that the course of this world may be so peaceably ordered by Thy governance, that Thy Church may joyfully serve Thee in all godly quietness; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
