Solemnity of St. John the Baptist

Happy Birthday St. John the Baptist! Wait I thought that we usually celebrate feast days on their anniversary of death, not their birthday. Well Mary and St. John the Baptist are the exceptions. Mary is the Mother of God so that’s not too surprising, but why John the Baptist? St. John the Baptist was the forerunner of Jesus. It was his job to announce, “Prepare ye the way of the Lord”. He is the bridge between the Old and the New Testaments. His birth precedes Christ’s and so his birthday is celebrated since it is so tied up with the Incarnation. He is celebrated today since from this time on there begins to be less and less sunlight until Christmas. The light decreases just like St. John decreased for Christ.

 

 

It is good to remember that all the saints point to Jesus. St. John the Baptist told the crowd’s “He must increase, I must decrease”(Mk.1:3 ). Today on this Solemnity we should try to remember to point to Christ and prepare a way for him in our hearts. I often find myself thinking about what is best for me, and what is most comfortable, instead of what does God want and what will help build the Kingdom of God. St. John is such a great example as he said, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (Jn. 3:30). Let’s pray to St. John the Baptist that we may decrease and that Christ may increase in us.