June 24, 2018: Nativity of John the Baptist

June 24, 2018 Birth of St John the Baptist

Click to hear Audio Homily
If you were invited to a baby shower for the birth of St. John the Baptist, what would you bring as a gift for his mother Elizabeth? Would it be camel hair diapers, grasshopper flavored pacifier, or organic wild honey infused baby shampoo? It’s hard to think of an appropriate gift for a child who is to become the forerunner and prophet for Jesus Christ. Just three months ago on March 25, we celebrated the Feast of Annunciation when Blessed Mother conceived Our Lord in her womb. Upon hearing from Archangel Gabriel that Elizabeth also conceived a child, Blessed Mother traveled in haste to her cousin’s home and stayed with her for three months until the birth of John.

A birth of a child is an occasion of great joy. When a husband and wife welcomes a new child, it is one of the greatest privileges they receive from God, for each child is a bundle of possibilities. This privilege also entails great responsibilities for the parents and teachers, for the fulfillment of a child’s God-given possibilities depend on their hard work and sacrifice. We Christians accept this responsibility at the time of our baptism when a priest or deacon asks us, “What name have you given your child?... Parents, you have asked to have your child baptized.  In doing so, you are accepting the responsibility of training your child in the practice of the faith. It will be your duty to bring your child up to keep God’s commandments as Christ taught us by loving God and our neighbor.  Do you clearly understand what you are undertaking?” Do you find yourself challenged in bringing up children in the faith? I find that sometimes parents want someone else to educate their children about faith--whether the Catholic school or parish-based religion classes. Weekends are too busy, many say, or it’s too inconvenient and doesn’t fit into the schedule. I know of a father of several young children who emptied out a closet and hung a crucifix on the wall and placed a kneeler inside. There early in the morning, he goes and prays. His children know that their dad is in his prayer closet, and sometimes they sneak in and pray with him. What an example of taking responsibilities in teaching faith!

John’s father, Zechariah, understood the enormous responsibility of raising his child in the ways of faith when his son’s birth and name were pre-announced by Archangel Gabriel. The God-given name of John or “Jeho-hanan” in Hebrew means “the Lord’s gift” or “the Lord is gracious.” This child was truly a great gift to an elderly, childless couple who had been praying for a child. The couple also understood that this child was a great gift to the world as Zechariah declared, “And you, my child, will be called prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give his people knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins…” (Lk 1:76-77) As an adult, John would provide testimony to the Lord by baptizing Jesus in the river Jordan, by pointing his disciples to follow Jesus, and by shedding his blood for truth. John remained humble for he knew that he was a messenger but not the Messiah, and so he sought to diminish his self importance and glorify the Son of God as he said, “He must increase; I must decrease.”  

The pre-announcement of John’s birth and mission help us appreciate our own calling. In Psalm 139 we learn that even before we were conceived, God knew us and called us into being, “My soul also you knew full well; nor was my frame unknown to you...Truly you have formed my inmost being; you knit me in my mother's womb. I give you thanks that I am fearfully, wonderfully made; wonderful are your works.”

In God’s eyes none of us are an accidental chance regardless of circumstance, race, or religion. As Mother Teresa said, “The child is the beauty of God present in the world, that greatest gift to a family.” God has given each of us a unique name and mission. Through baptism, God claimed us to be His very own--in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit-- and called us to be disciples of Jesus Christ. So we have a choice each day whether to accept and live out our calling from God. Although we may not have been handed a piece of paper with a detailed job description of what we are to do with our lives, through faithful prayer, life of charity, and forgiveness, our unique calling as  sons and daughters of God the Most High will unfold and reveal itself. We are given our name by our parents, but God has formed us in the secret of our mother’s womb in order for us to proclaim with our lives whom we serve. Whether we are a janitor, housewife, chemical plant worker, prominent civic leader, a priest or a cardinal, each of us are to live up to our baptismal promises. Each of us will have to approach the throne room of Almighty Father and be judged for our actions--whether we proclaimed Christ’s love through our actions.