The Nativity of John the Baptist is a fascinating Feast. It is one of only three Church feasts that celebrate a birthday …. The others are the births of Jesus, and of his Mother, Mary.
John the Baptist is well known to Catholics, and yet we too often underestimate his importance to us as Christians.
Scripture tells us an amazing story of his life … How God was involved in his conception to the barren and elderly Elizabeth. How God revealed to his Father Zechariah the special role his son was to play, and how Zechariah didn’t trust the message and was made unable to speak. How convention was ignored and he was named ‘John” … which means ‘grace’. How John was the last of the Old Testament Prophets (it had been 400 years since Malachi) and the first of the New Testament prophets. How John first encounters Jesus as they were both in utero. And how, 8 days after his birth, when he was presented to the temple, Zechariah spoke one of the most beautiful and profound canticles we have in scripture. A canticle that is said and sung every morning by millions of people – clergy and religious and lay – as they pray the Liturgy of the Hours.
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; He has come to His people and set them free.
He has raised up for us a mighty Saviour, born of the house of His servant David.
Through His holy prophets He promised of old that He would save us from our enemies, from the hands of all who hate us.
He promised to show mercy to our fathers, and to remember His holy Covenant.
This was the oath He swore to our father Abraham: To set us free from the hands of our enemies, free to worship Him without fear, holy and righteous in His sight, all the days of our life.
You, My child shall be called the prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare His way, to give his people knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins.
In the tender compassion of our God the dawn from on high shall break upon us, to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace.
John grew up and preached the need for Metanoia … for a Conversion of Heart. A Change of Mind. A change in our way of thinking. In Hebrew, the word is תשובה … Teshuva . From the root word Shuv … to turn away from… and turn to.
Many, many followers were touched by John’s message. They flocked to see him, to be ritually baptized – washed clean – as a sign of their conversion. Profoundly, and mysteriously, even Jesus begins his ministry with this ritual washing.
John in his ministry points to the Essence of Jesus .. the Lamb of God. And he reveals to those he has prepared an even greater vision of how God was breaking forth into creation in the person of Jesus of Nazareth.
He came to prepare the way of the Lord as prophesied by Isaiah centuries before.
He spent his time in the desert, shunning the culture of the day, spending time alone to ponder his mission and pray and connect with God. And yes, he dressed funny and ate bugs.
John spoke out for truth, whatever the cost. And the cost was high… it cost him his life.
He was, according to the very words of Jesus, the greatest human of all time … yet Jesus gives us the mysterious message that the Least in the Reign of God is greater than John.
You and I are greater than John,
So, why the Feast. And why now? The Church celebrates the birth of Jesus around the winter solstace when the days are the shortest, and after his birth, more and more daylight comes. Light has started coming into a dark world. John’s nativity is celebrated around the Summer Solstice. From this point on, the days get shorter. This resonates with Johns words …. I must decrease, he must increase.
There is so much spiritual nourishment in reflecting on John the Baptist.
But, what does this all mean?
Why is the birth of John the Baptist so important to the Church?
Why is the birth of John the Baptist so important to you and I?
I think it is because Zechariah’s words about his Son John are God’s words about you and I.
You and I have been called to be a prophet of the Most High, for we will go with the Lord to reveal His way, to give his people knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins.
In the tender compassion of our God the dawn from on high shall break upon us, to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace.
Johns mission transcends space and time and points to the awesome reality of the presence of God in every moment of our lives; it points to the awesome reality of a Spiritual domain within which you and I live, and breath and have our existence
And like John, you and I are called from our first moment of existence to bear witness to that reality by what we say and what we do as we live out our lives. You and I, like John, have a mission and purpose in our lives that goes so far beyond just living,
And one of the great tragedies of life is that so many people live their lives and never take time to discover their mission. Their purpose.
What is the purpose of your life?
What mission has God entrusted to you.
Because you all have one. Have you discovered it yet??
The hints are there if you look for them.
Reflect on what brings you true joy in your life.
Reflect on the things you do that make you feel that you are acting out of the very essence of who you are as a person.. as Matthew Kelly would say, when you are the “Best Version of Yourself”.
Reflect on when how you live your life points the bigger realities, and especially the insanely generous, unconditional and inclusive love that God has for each and every person.
Think about when your life reveals the tender compassion of our Lord.
Of when your words and actions reflect a beacon light that shines on those living in darkness and despair and self-loathing, and in the shadow of death as they age or encounter illness.
Of when your actions guide feet into the way of peace. Of love. Of caring. Guide others into the very reality of God’s presence within them and around them.
Like John, your life has a mission and purpose.
What is the purpose of your life?
What mission has God entrusted to you.
Have you discovered it yet??
If not, then maybe it’s time you should.