Nativity of John the Baptist

There was a man sent from God whose name was John.  He came to bear witness to the light, to prepare an upright people for the Lord.  (Jn 1:6-7)

Today's celebration of this great prophet, John the Baptist, is filled with awe and wonder.  Luke's infancy narrative recites the story we are all familiar with.  We are told that the people are filled with 'fear' as they see the events surrounding John's birth.  We have to understand that the word 'fear' alludes to 'awe,' and not being scared.  John is seen as the last of a line of prophets who is sent by God as a sign of expectation and promise.

Father Carroll Stuhlmueller had once commented that John was a "Fierce prophet of truth and justice.  So great was John the Baptist that the entire prophetic ministry of the Hebrew Scriptures was summed up in him."  John called for conversion and discipleship as people came into the desert to be baptized by him.  While his message was not original, calling people back to the covenant, John was telling them to reflect and look deeply into their lives so that they would be able to recognize the Christ; the Word of God made flesh.

In John's time, as is the case today, there were people who had doubts, who were confused, and wondering.  John asked them, through repentance, to put their interior selves in order, and to believe more strongly in the living God.  Sin and confusion opens the doorway to all sorts of evil.  A life which seeks the truth, and puts it into practice, pushes evil away.  John's plea is to make our lives more worthy of God.

John's ministry is very much about recognizing the Lamb of God, and pointing him out to others.  The premise of John the Baptist is to prepare ourselves to follow the way of the Lord.  Our best spiritual practices and efforts tap into an abundance of grace and blessings.  It's not about becoming a monk or a nun, but to be aware of our faults and failings, learn to do good, and o be attentive to the Word of God.  In the foreground of our minds and hearts we want to be aware that Jesus is our salvation and our peace.