Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist
“When the time arrived for Elizabeth to have her child, she gave birth to a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy toward her, and they rejoiced with her. When they came on the eighth day to circumcise the child, they were going to call him Zechariah after his father, but his mother said in reply, “No. He will be called John.” But they answered her, “There is no one among your relatives who has this name.” So, they made signs, asking his father what he wished him to be called. He asked for a tablet and wrote, “John is his name,” and all were amazed. Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed, and he spoke blessing God. Then fear came upon all their neighbors, and all these matters were discussed throughout the hill country of Judea. All who heard these things took them to heart, saying, “What, then, will this child be?” For surely the hand of the Lord was with him." (Lk 1:57-66)
Today the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist.
In the church calendar, this is an exception, because we celebrate the memory of each of the saints on the day of their birth for heaven - that is, on the day of the transition from this world to see God’s face to face. Why this exception? Why today, the Church gives us to consider this unique figure on his birthday? Saint John the Baptist is the last prophet who closes the Old Testament and opens the New Testament. God's promise given to man from the beginning of time, after the unfortunate original sin, is being fulfilled in the call of Saint John the Baptist to straighten human paths, because our Lord and Savior, the long-awaited Messiah is coming.
Saint Luke devotes a lot of space in his Gospel to the person of Saint John the Baptist. Although in the non-canonical Jewish tradition there are many analogous announcements of the birth of great man (e.g. Abraham, Moses). The events associated with John’s birth is very important. The moment when Zacharias becomes silent becomes a symbol. It is the result of unbelief that God can lead a life out of a situation when, humanly speaking, there are no reasons for it. He recovers his speech when the words of God's messenger come true - the announced child comes into the world, and he gives him the name previously heard from Archangel Gabriel. Faith revives what has been dead so far, and the response to the Creator's action is a thanksgiving hymn of worship.
It is no accident that John the Baptist could say after many years that he was "the voice of one calling in the desert" (cf. Lk 3: 4). His message was truly clear: only accepting the "Word made flesh" - Jesus Christ, guarantees man that he will be able to understand himself, cross the borders of his own dumbness. The message is still valid today. There is no hope in the multilingual stream that flows from everywhere. It is a stream that dries immediately without carrying life. This reality stripped from God's presence, is dead by itself.
It is worth paying attention to the meaning of the name itself, which everyone receives at the beginning of their path. The name given helps us to better understand God's matters. Mother of John - Elizabeth - in Hebrew means: God has promised. And his father Zechariah - means: God remembers. And their son John: God is kind. The names themselves indicate God's reality, which should be properly interpreted. The family of Zechariah and the neighbors were against the name John, because tradition required him to choose the name of his father or grandfather to emphasize his belonging to the family. But this child, born of two people advanced in age, of the barren Elizabeth and of Zachariah who unbelieved in conceiving the son, when he grows up, he will not care about the narrow family circle, but above all about the fulfillment of God's promises.
It is especially important to correctly read the meaning of the name that God Himself gives. The Bible clearly indicates this in both the Old Testament and the New. In the sacrament of the baptism we received the name from Christ Himself. That is why the Saints Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen wrote: "Although others have different names, either after their father or their own, from their professions or deeds, we considered it a great honor to call ourselves Christians." In the sacrament of Confirmation, being already aware of our presence in God's Church, we choose a new name to help us realize our calling. Persons who make religious vows become consecrated persons, that is, intended for the exclusive service of the Gospel - they receive a new name.
Saint John the Baptist, the predecessor of the Lord Jesus, according to the calendar - half a year earlier born and also his relative, is the only prophet whom God commissioned directly to prepare people in the slavery of sin to receive God's Son. Those who asked the Lord Jesus who John the Baptist was - this was the answer: " Amen, I say to you, among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist" (Mt 11:11) Dominican Father Jacek Salij writes that "The church has for centuries guessed that John the Baptist was already freed from his original sin in his mother's womb, namely at the time when his mother Elizabeth met the pregnant Mother of the Son of God. Therefore, John is the only saint to whose birth is dedicated the liturgical feast - as well as to the birth of the Lord Jesus and the birth of the Holy Mother."
It is also worth to consider how much good was released in people's hearts because of the birth of John the Baptist. This joy was shared by the whole family, friends and neighbors. Therefore, full of amazement they asked: "Who will this child be?" Because the Lord's hand was seen in this event.
Today, in the feast of the birth of Saint John let us silence our heart so that it becomes a desert, because then we will hear his voice calling for conversion.
And with a contrite heart, will be easier to read our name that God gave us before we came into being in our mother’s wombs.
Canticle of Zechariah
Blessed be the Lord, The God of Israel; He has come to His people and set them free.
He has raised up for us a mighty Savior,
Born of the house of His servant David.
Through His holy prophets He promised of old
That He would save us from our enemies,
From the hands of all who hate us.
He promised to show mercy to our fathers
And to remember His holy Covenant.
This was the oath He swore to our father Abraham:
To set us free from the hands of our enemies,
Free to worship Him without fear,
Holy and righteous in His sight
All the days of our life.
You, My child shall be called
The prophet of the Most High,
For you will go before the Lord to prepare His way,
To give his people knowledge of salvation
By the forgiveness of their sins.
In the tender compassion of our Lord
The dawn from on high shall break upon us,
to shine on those who dwell in darkness
And the shadow of death,
And to guide our feet into the way of peace.
Glory to the Father,
and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning.
is now, and will be forever.
Amen.