06/24/2026
Today the church celebrates the Nativity of John the Baptist, the literal and figurative “voice in the wilderness” (Isaiah 40:3) that prepared the way for the Messiah. Though his own works and preaching produced great popularity and acclaim, John never lost sight of his calling and purpose, nor did he let the praise of man go to his head. In fact, John said of Jesus, “He is the one who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.”
The parallels of the two men’s lives are truly fascinating. They first “meet” while both in the wombs of their holy mothers who were cousins. The in-vitro John “leaps within the womb” of St. Elizabeth upon hearing the voice of the Blessed Virgin Mary and being within proximity to Christ, also still within the womb.
The two famously come in contact again as adults, when Jesus convinces John to baptize him as a sign of faith for all generations, despite the latter feeling completely unworthy.
And of course, finally, Jesus hears of the martyrdom of John in the Gospel of Matthew when John’s followers, after retrieving his body and burying it, come to tell Him the news. Jesus, presumably greatly saddened by the news, attempts to withdraw in solitude via a boat, but is followed on foot by a large, hungry crowd. He is “moved by compassion for them," and the event sets off the miracle of the feeding of the 5,000.
John the Baptist’s entire life was designed with the purpose of serving Christ and God’s plan for salvation of mankind. When his purpose was complete, he was taken from this world, in a manner that to us seems very unfair. Yet when we realize this was also his doorway to his eternal reward, we can rejoice that his job was done and he remained faithful until the end. Imagine the joyous reunion John had with Jesus when He goes to release the holy souls waiting in the Bosom of Abraham!
May our lives mirror John the Baptist, sold out to Jesus and to God’s purpose for us in this world, despite the praise or the persecution of mankind. May our voices continue to ring out in this wilderness to help prepare the way for Christ in the hearts of the lost and seeking.
John the Baptist, pray for us!
