Today is one of those rare liturgical experiences in which a Solemnity outranks a Sunday. There are very few others, notably the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord.
The 24th of June has been celebrated since antiquity as the birth date of John the Baptist because we know from Scripture that his mother, Elizabeth, was six months pregnant when the Virgin Mary came to visit her newly pregnant with the Lord Jesus. What happens six months from today? Exactly, Jesus is born on December 25.
Other reasons offered have been that Jesus’ birth occurred near the winter solstice, that is the shortest day of the year and beginning the rising of the sun earlier and earlier in the sky. John’s birth occurred near the summer solstice, i.e., when the day is longest and now is shortening, just as John was to diminish as Jesus was to increase.
John the Baptist was the point of departure from the Old Testament and the beginning of the New. He interfaced both. He was the last of the prophets; he was the “return of Elijah.” He was sent forth even while in his mother’s womb to announce the coming, indeed the presence, of the Messiah, his cousin Jesus. He was an extraordinarily important person in the history of salvation, yet one we seldom spend much time getting to know in our meditations and prayer life. Jesus himself said that no man greater than John has been born of a woman. So we honor him today.
Did you know that by virtue of your baptism you too are called to go forth and announce the Gospel of the Lord? You too are called to be one who points out Jesus to others?
St. John the Baptist, pray that all God’s people may imitate you in your fervor and in your humility. May all who profess the name Christian herald the good news that Jesus is in our midst!
