Consider your own calling, brothers and sisters.
Not many of you were wise by human standards,
not many were powerful,
not many were of noble birth.
Rather, God chose the foolish of the world to shame the wise,
and God chose the weak of the world to shame the strong,
and God chose the lowly and despised of the world,
those who count for nothing,
to reduce to nothing those who are something,
so that no human being might boast before God.
It is due to him that you are in Christ Jesus,
who became for us wisdom from God,
as well as righteousness, sanctification, and redemption,
so that, as it is written,
Whoever boasts, should boast in the Lord.
— 1 Corinthians 1:26
The peace of the Lord be with you. Today we remember the Passion of Saint John the Baptist. A man from humble beginnings from a righteous family who later would be the one to announce the presence of the Messiah and point out the Lamb of God to those who would become the disciples of Jesus. Despite his simple clothing and meager diet of honey and locusts, he speaks with power to the point that it reached the heart of Herod who liked to listen to his words. That same power is still present today through the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit helps the humble to speak the truth to power.
The Holy Spirit empowers the weak to stand up to the mighty.
The Holy Spirit grants strength and endurance in the face of trial and tribulation.
Let us thank God for these mighty gifts and humbly remember that the authority each of us is given comes from God to build His kingdom for the benefit of all peoples.
Pray for us Saint John the Baptist that like you we may courageously live out and announce the presence of the Lord in our time. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.