24.06.2024 – St. Patrick Catholic Church, Largo, FL

His name is John

Isaiah 49:1-6, Psalm 139, Acts 13:22-26, Luke 1:57-66, 80

Today, we celebrate the solemnity of the Birth of John the Baptist. Of him Jesus declared “Amen, I say to you, among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist (Mt 11:7-11).” The circumstances surrounding his birth clearly shows that he was a man on a mission. He is portrayed with the characteristic camel’s skin clothing, the belt around his waist and holding a stick that ends in the shape of a cross.

Zachary, his father is struck dumb and loses his voice, until John, the Lord’s forerunner, is born and releases his voice for him. The releasing of Zachary’s voice at the birth of John has the same significance as the tearing of the veil of the Temple at the crucifixion of Christ. If John were meant to proclaim himself, he would not be opening Zachary’s mouth. The tongue is released because a voice is being born. John is the voice crying in the wilderness prepare a way for the Lord.

As we read in today’s gospel, at John’s birth the neighbours and relations: “What will this child turn out to be?” This is a question that could be asked about any of us at any stage of our lives, “What will we turn out to be?” or “What does God want us to be”? “Is there a divine purpose for our lives?” The purpose of John’s life and God’s purposes for all of us have much in common. Our Maker wants all of us to do what John did, to point out the Saviour, to make way for Jesus, to lead others to him by what we say and do. John the Baptist, whose birth we now celebrate, has something to teach us about how to follow our God-given calling. He was a man of quiet, the desert, and a man of prayer. We all need to find our own desert place of prayer if we are to remain true to our calling to lead others to the Lord, if we are to turn out as God wants us to.

Artists have pictured John the Baptist with two symbols that typify him very much. One is a mouth that shouts. It is the voice crying in the wilderness, calling people to conversion. It is a voice that could not be silenced, scolding the religious leaders and those who have turned away from God, and urging people to change their ways. Without fear he challenged the King Herod of his adulterous relationship. He paid for it dearly, and cost him his head. The second image is that, the Baptist is the finger pointing to the coming Messiah, and here too he paid dearly, for his own disciples deserted him to follow Jesus. Still he went ahead: the one whom he announced must become greater.

The solemnity invites us to be courageous in proclaiming the Gospel and constantly pointing to Jesus. We are not the centre of the Mission, but it is Christ himself. Like John the Baptist each of us, is wonderfully made, created and with a mission since our conception. As the Baptist pointed the right way for his people, each of us in quiet ways can do for people in our time. We can help tell our neighbours about the graciousness and the favour of God. The name John means God is gracious or God shows favour. We too have a significant name, for being Christians implies that we sharing in the mission of Christ, the Saviour. It means that we are to be like other Christs to the world. We God give us the grace and strength to fulfil our mission as faithfully as John did his.