John Prepares the Ways of the Lord-Homily for the Solemnity of the birth of St. John the Baptist JUNE 2023

Homily for the Solemnity of the Birth of St. John the Baptist.

Isaiah 49:1-6. Psalm 139:1-3,13-14,15. Acts 13:22-26. Luke 1:57-66,80.

Theme: John Prepares the Ways of the Lord.

Today, we celebrate the Solemnity of the birth of St. John the Baptist. Firstly, the date chosen for this birth was inspired by the prior choice of the date of Christmas six months' interval between the two births.

Secondly, besides the birthday of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary, this is the only feast of the birth the Catholic Church celebrates. For the Catholic Church, the birthday of the saint is the day of his death. It is the birth into heaven.

Since we have proofs from the Scripture that John the Baptist was born in the grace of God, we celebrate his birth into this world. St. Luke tells us: "And when Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the child leapt in my womb. Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit" (Luke 1:41). Even the archangel Gabriel foretold of this to Zechariah: "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, ... and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit" (Luke 1:13-15).

From the womb of his mother, Elizabeth, John the Baptist, belonged to God's kingdom.

This Solemnity was already being celebrated in the fourth century. John the Baptist is the forerunner of our Lord Jesus Christ, and he puts the whole of his life and all his energies into carrying out this mission. It will be a life full of austerity, penance, and zeal for souls.

The first reading tells us of a faithful servant of God, who will be the light of all peoples. There were those who thought that John the Baptist was such a light,  but the second reading attested to the fact that he is not the light. And as John was finishing his course, he said, "What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. No, but after me, one is coming, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie" (Acts 13:25).

St. Augustine points out that the Church celebrates the birth of John the Baptist as something sacred. He is the last of the Prophets of the Old Testament and the first to draw our attention to the Messiah. His birth that we celebrate today brought great rejoicing, for all those who were to get to know Christ through his preaching; he was the dawn that announces the coming of day. This is why St. Luke emphasises the time of his appearing, at a very definite moment in history: In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod the tetrarch of Galilee (Luke 3:1). John the Baptist turns out to be the dividing line between the Old and New Testaments. His preaching is the beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and his martyrdom foretells the Saviour's Passion. In spite of all this, John the Baptist was a passing voice; Christ was the eternal Word from the beginning.

St. Luke, in today's Gospel, describes the birth of John the Baptist, while the other evangelists mention him only at the beginning of the public life of our Lord Jesus Christ. Luke does so in order to show that with John the Baptist, a new era has dawned: the time of the promises has ended, there is  to be no more waiting, the time has begun for such promises to be fulfilled. God has kept his word.

Today, on the Solemnity of the birth of St. John the Baptist, as we contemplate the great figure of him, he who fulfilled his mission so faithfully, we can ask ourselves whether we too make straight the ways of the Lord that He may enter into the souls of those friends and relatives of ours who are still far from him, and so that those already close to him may give themselves to him more fully. As Christians, we are the forerunners of Christ in today's world. The Lord uses us as torches to make that light shine out. Much depends on us; if we respond, many people will 

no longer remain in darkness, but will walk along instead of the paths to eternal life.

We see in the life of John the Baptist the true definition of humility. He acknowledged the supremacy of Christ and taught his disciples that he must decrease while Christ must increase. The question before us is, are we humble in our relations with our family members, friends, and colleagues at work or school? We should like him, proclaim Christ as the Lamb of God, by our humble way of living.

Today, let us remember the many couples still hoping and trusting God for a child, praying that their prayers be answered soon. We also pray for those who promote and commit abortion, that they will be granted conversion of heart to see that every child is a precious gift from God.

May God, through the intercession of St. John the Baptist make us faithful to the mission He has entrusted us with until the end of our lives through Christ our Lord. Amen.