Fr. Noel Y. Bava, SJ
Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist
June 24, 2018
John the Baptist is the most important figure in the scriptures next to Jesus and Mary. John occupies an exalted place in the litany of the saints preceding even the beloved St. Joseph and the four evangelists. There is a great reason for this: John, also called the Baptizer, was the precursor, the forerunner or herald (someone who came to announce the coming of a more important person) to Jesus. He bridges the gap between the Old and the New Testaments and he is the one foretold by the Prophet Isaiah: “Behold the voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, straighten His paths” (Isaiah 40:3).
Being cousin to Jesus and called the greatest prophet that ever lived by Christ, John the Baptist remains a very humble person. He never calls attention to himself and he is aware of his lowly stature. This is perhaps why Jesus says: “No man born of women among you is greater than he” (Luke 7:28).
John himself would later admit: “I baptize you with water for repentance but someone more powerful than I am is coming. I am not worthy even to untie the thongs of his sandals. He is going to baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire” (Matthew 3:3).
So, let us take a closer look at what makes John an amazing prophet, teacher and saint.
1) He recognized the Holiness in Jesus: Even before he was born, when Mary visited his mother Elizabeth, John sensed someone sent from above was coming. In excitement and joy, he leapt in his mother’s womb (Luke 1:41-44). The two most significant persons in the history of mankind, Mary and Jesus, visited John’s humble abode and he could not contain his happiness. He had to make known how honored and blessed he felt at this gesture and since he could not yet speak he chose a most peculiar way of registering his affection and adoration: he leapt with joy. We all know if a baby is contented and happy, aside from giggling and laughing, they jump uncontrollably.
While he was baptizing at the River Jordan and people from all walks of life were coming to him to be baptized and to receive forgiveness for their sins, he saw Jesus coming to him. He would have wanted Jesus to baptize him instead, recognizing that he was sinful and Jesus without blemish but Jesus prevailed over him. John had the rare distinction of being the only person in history to have baptized the Son of God. His heart must have been jumping up and down for joy and gratitude.
2) He always pointed to Jesus: There are at least 125 works of art at the National Gallery in London depicting John the Baptist. Most of these paintings show John wearing camel’s hair and carrying cross made from reeds (to signify that he was baptizing in the river where reeds grow abundantly). But also, his index finger points to a lamb, to a scriptural text saying “Ecce agnus Dei” (Behold the Lamb of God) or to heaven. His life was not consumed by self-promotion. He was never preoccupied with the thought that he was the greatest prophet. He always pointed to Jesus. It was as if he was saying: “Don’t look at me for the message. I am only the messenger. Look at Jesus. He has the message. He is the message.”
John knew that his wisdom could not compare to the wisdom of the Son of God. He could never arrogate for himself the knowledge of God, of Heaven, of the forgiveness of sins through his own holiness, prayer and fasting alone. He knew that only Jesus knew the Father through and through. John tells us that only through Jesus could we learn of God’s plan for all of us.
3) He was ready to die for the truth and his faith: John spoke strongly against the Sadducees and the Pharisees as “brood of vipers” (Matthew 3:7). His stinging remark must have truly offended them that’s why they had him arrested on trump up charges. John’s relatives and friends must have warned him to go easy on his attacks lest he incur the wrath of the powers that be. But John was speaking the truth. He knew how sinful and utterly corrupt these people were and how they made life more miserable for the poor. John hated hypocrisy. He was against people behaving holy and unstained before the public but foul and rotten inside.
John did not spare even the tax collectors and soldiers who came to him for baptism (Luke 3: 12-14). He told the tax collectors not to defraud or collect more than what was due. To the soldiers, he admonished them not to harass or abuse anyone and never to accuse any person falsely. But perhaps, John’s most intrepid pronouncement was when he called out Herod, the King of Judea, an adulterer and he challenged him to repent and to return to God.
Herod feared John and he would not want to do him any harm. But Herod loved his mistress, he loved his reputation and the power of his office more than he admired John. Despite knowing that John was a man of God, he consented to his arrest and later to his beheading.
But John never faltered in his faith. He did not cower at intimidation and threats to his life. He knew that he had to speak the truth no matter the consequences. He was willing and ready to die for what he believed in. Even at the moment of despair, when beaten and broken and close to surrendering, he spoke of the truth and wagered for his faith. When he was close to dying, he sent for his apostles, some sort of a final push, to learn if Christ was the Messiah. And when the answer came affirmatively, he embraced death. Dying in a very ugly and painful manner, John entered Life beautiful and resplendent in God’s glory.
John recognized holiness, he pointed to Jesus and he was ready to die for his faith. These are three of the most amazing qualities this humble teacher and prophet exhibited during his life. These are the reasons why Jesus called him, “the greatest man born of woman” and the “greatest prophet in all Israel.”
How about you? Can you be like John the Baptist?
Can you sense holiness in other people, in places of worship? Do you take the name of God in vain? Do you curse God in front of other people and call him stupid or attribute weakness to his power?
Does your life point to Jesus? Do people encounter Christ when they encounter you? Do you go beyond yourself and lead your relatives and friends to Jesus?
Are you ready to die for your faith and what you believe in? When someone insults or hurl unjust accusations against God and his representatives do you just keep quiet? Do you support people who show nothing but contempt and disdain for the Church where you belong?
If you do, it’s time to ask John the Baptist to help you more and more be like him.