SOLEMNITY OF THE BIRTH OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST. 24.06.2020.

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

BIRTH AND NAMING OF JOHN THE BAPTIST. 

 

When Christ said, “I tell you, among those born of women, there is no one greater than John, yet even the least in the Kingdom of God is greater than him” (Lk 7:28). Just like the event of his naming on how people wondered on what will become of the child, many of us will begin to wonder, what is it that is unique about this man called John the Baptist? Some might wonder why is it that his birth is such a big feast, that even when it falls on a Sunday, it remains immovable? Some have ask why is his birth celebrated in the month of June?

 

To begin with, the date adopted for the solemnity of the birth of St. John the Baptist is calculated by reference to another important solemnity in the Church. Precisely three months ago, on March 25th, we celebrated the feast of the Annunciation, the feast the Blessed Virgin Mary conceived the child Jesus in her womb at the angel’s visit to her. Same day, she heard of the pregnancy of her elderly cousin Elizabeth, after which, she set out to visit her and stayed three months with her. Practically, after John was safely born before Mary returned to Nazareth. Proceeding his birth came the naming ceremony, which today’s Gospel presents to us. At the birth of John, we are told that the neighbours and kinsfolk rejoiced with Elizabeth and Zachariah, a fulfilment of angel Gabriel’s promise in Lk 1:14. This rejoicing also has great significance to the child’s name. He was called ‘John,’ the name given by the angel in Lk 1:13, which means, “The Lord is gracious.” God has shown great favour to this childless couple in their old age and to all humanity.

 

Before the naming ceremony of John the Baptist, there was a prophetic voice by the prophet Isaiah as seen in the first reading of today. He said, “The Lord called me from the womb, from the body of my mother, he named my name… to bring back to him, and that Israel might be gathered to him… I will give you a light to the nation, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.” This prophetic voice of old has been silent for years until the birth of John, and at his birth, there were rejoicing. John became the last prophet before the coming of Christ; he stood as the boundary between the Old and New Testament, of which Christ himself said, “The Law and the Prophets were until John…” John represent the old and heralds the new. Theologically, he was born of an old couple, a way to indicate the boundary of the Old Testament as being revealed as a prophet in the mother’s womb. At the encounter of Mary and Elizabeth, we were told that the child in Elizabeth womb leaped for joy (Lk 1:41). It was a Divine encounter of which John had a spiritual awareness of the presence of God, which is seen as the boundary of the Old and New Testament. The last of the prophet of Old, while still in the womb of Elizabeth had a great encounter with Christ who was still in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

 

The prophetic voice that have been silent for long was revealed in the birth of John the Baptist, who gave voice to his father Zachariah that was struck dumb and lost his voice until the naming, of the child when he wrote, “His name is John” and then, his voice became loosed just as the angel had foretold. John is the voice that heralds the coming of Christ. When the Jews sent Levites to ask him “Who are you?” He said, “I am not the Messiah… I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness…” John is the voice and Christ is the Word which the voice heralds. St. Paul in the second reading, tells us, “Before the coming of Christ, John had preached a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel, he prepared the way for Christ and he did his work excellently with the virtue of humility in him.

 

Dear friends in Christ, we are charged today like John, to be the voice that lead people to Christ, to tell our friends and families about the graciousness and favour of God. To let them know, that there is nothing impossible before God, that barrenness bow in the name of God just like the case of the old couple, cancer or whatever sickness or virus, go down on their knees in the name of Christ. Even death, has a new meaning to those who belief in Christ. Hence, let the voice of this message bring God’s Word to you and enable you lead others to Christ. As you do so, may you experience Divine favour and may your families, friends and neighbours rejoice with you through Christ our Lord. Amen! Peace be with you!

 

Happy Solemnity of the birth of St. John the Baptist!

Fr. Ken Dogbo, OSJ