Jesus shed His precious blood for us and His death was the beginning of His triumph. It must be put into effect in our lives also, if we are to be genuine Christians. This paradox of dying to this life in order to live in Heaven, was enacted in a wonderful way in the lives of Jesus and of the Saints. He who loves his life, loses it and he, who hates his life in this world, keeps it unto life everlasting” (Jn 12:24-25). But if it dies, it brings forth much fruit. “ Unless the grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies,” Jesus said, “ it remains alone. “In Christian teaching, death is the beginning of life. When John is born, the father suddenly becomes a prophet or priest, speech attains its use, love receives an offspring, the office recognises the priest.” – – St Maximus of Turin (Died c 420) Bishop of Turin, Father ( Sermon 6) St Maximus’ Feast Day today. What Gabriel had closed, the little child unlocked. Consider, I say, his merit – John unloosed the mouth that the Angel had bound. Consider, then, the merit of the holy Baptist: he gave his father back his voice, he restored the faculty of speech to the priest. Then, in a wonderful manner, when he had taken the tablets in order to begin writing, his tongue was loosened, the written word gave way to speech and he did not write “ John” but spoke it.

Writing tablets were offered to his father, so that he himself could put down the name that he had decided upon, so that he might express, in writing, what he could not, in speech. REFLECTION – “When John, his son was born, among his neighbours there was concern about what name he should be given. “Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed and he spoke blessing God.” – Luke 1:64

One Minute Reflection – 27 June – “The Month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus” and Feast of Our Mother of Perpetual Succour, Within the Octave of St John – Isaias 49:1-3, 5-7, Luke 1:57-68 – Scripture search here:

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