Memorial of the Passion of Saint John the Baptist
John the Baptist is a prophet who has been given the important and unique task of preparing people for the coming of the Messiah and who baptized Him in the waters of the Jordan. With his harsh way of life in the desert, he showed that he was a man with demanding principles in accordance with God's commandments. In defense of God's law, he had the courage to discipline even the king, thus exposing himself to his wrath, imprisonment and even death. Because of his adamant attitude, he became the first New Testament martyr to die for the truth. Jesus himself is the truth in the full sense of the word. Baptized with the baptism of blood, he will reign forever together with other saved people, sharing in the life of the Lamb of God himself, about whom he gave a unique testimony.
Illustrious herald of grace and messenger of truth, John the Baptist, torch of Christ, becomes an Evangelist of the Eternal Light.
He continued to bear prophetic witness in his message, life and activities, and today he marks them with his blood and martyrdom.
He always preceded his Master: With his birth he proclaimed his coming into the world.
Baptizing the contrite in Jordan foretold the One who came to institute his baptism.
And the death of Christ the Redeemer, his Savior who gave life to the world, John the Baptist also experienced it first, pouring out their blood for Him out of love
(St. Bede the Venerable (c. 673-735), monk, doctor of the Church Hymn to the Martyrdom of St. John the Baptist; PL 94,630)
Saint John the Baptist
The name John is of Hebrew origin and means "God is gracious". John the Baptist was born to the priest Zechariah and Elizabeth (Lk 1: 5-80). His birth from previously barren Elizabeth and his special mission was announced to Zacharias by the Archangel Gabriel, when Zechariah, as a priest, incensed the altar in the temple (cf. Lk 1: 8-17). He was born six months before the birth of Jesus (Luke 1:36), probably in Ein Karem
in Judea, about 7 km west of Jerusalem. This is evidenced by an old tradition, first mentioned around the year 525 by Theodosius. At circumcision, he was given a name as commanded by the angel. On this occasion, Zechariah sang a canticle in which he celebrates the fulfillment of the messianic promises and welcomes him as a prophet who will walk before the Lord and prepare his way in human hearts (cf. Lk 1: 68-79). This canticle has entered the liturgy for good and is an important element of the daily morning prayer of the Church - Lauds. Through his mother, Elizabeth, John was a relative of Jesus (cf. Lk 1:36).
St. Luke in the Gospel tells us the following information: " The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the desert until the day of his manifestation to Israel" (cf. Lk 1: 80). This can be understood to mean that after the early death of his elderly parents, John lived the life of an anachoretic, hermit, alone or in the company of others. It is possible that he may have come across the Essenes, who at that time had their community at the Dead Sea in Qumram. By the time he was 30, he was legally allowed to speak in public and teach. He undertook this work by the Jordan, near Jericho. Sometimes he moved to other places, such as Bethany (cf. John 1:28) and Aenonnear Salim (cf. John 3:23). He began his teaching in the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius (cf. Lk 3: 1), that is, in 30 A.D. according to the usual chronology.
As a herald of the Messiah, John emphasized that it was not enough to belong to the descendants of Abraham, but to make the fruits of penance, to transform internally. As a sign of repentance and readiness to change life, he gave a baptism of penance (cf. Lk 3: 7-14; Mt 3: 7-10; Mk 1: 8). " At that time Jerusalem, all Judea, and the whole region around the Jordan were going out to him” (cf. Mt 3: 5; Mk 1: 5). They even began to ask him if he himself was the announced Messiah. John firmly dispelled doubts by saying that "the one who is coming after me is mightier than I. I am not worthy to carry his sandals " (cf. Mt 3:11). At the request of Christ, who came to the Jordan, John baptized him. Later, more than once, he saw Christ by the Jordan and testified of him to the crowd: " Behold, the Lamb of God,* who takes away the sin of the world" (cf. Jn 1:29, 36). As a result of this confession, the first two disciples, John and Andrew, who had been disciples of St. John, went to Jesus (cf. John 1: 37-40).
The elders of the people quickly drew attention to John's activities. However, they were afraid to speak out against him, preferring to take a wait-and-see position (cf. Jn 1:19; Mt 3: 7). The ruler of Galilee, Herod II Antipas (+ 40), son of Herod I the Great, also became interested in the person of John. He is the one who ordered the slaughter of the children in Bethlehem. One can guess that Herod summoned John to his castle, Machaerus. But he bitterly regretted his curiosity. For John took this opportunity to tell him straight in his face: "It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife " (cf. Mk 6:18). The angry king, at the instigation of his Brother Philip's wife, whom Herod, to general indignation, took for his own, ordered John to be arrested. On his birthday, he gave a feast during which, drunk under oath, he undertook to give Herodias daughter Salome whatever she asked for. After consulting her mother, Salome asked for John's head. Herod ordered the executioner to execute John's death sentence and to bring his head to Salome on a platter (cf. Mt 14: 1-12). John was then in his thirties.
Jesus gave John a testimony that no man has received from his mouth:
Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John, “What did you go out to the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind?
Then what did you go out to see? Someone dressed in fine clothing? Those who wear fine clothing are in royal palaces. Then why did you go out? To see a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.
This is the one about whom it is written: “Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way before you.”
Amen, I say to you, among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. "(cf. Mt 11: 7-11; Lk 7: 24-27).
John the Baptist is the only saint among the Lord's saints to enjoy the privilege of celebrating the day of his birth. For all other saints, we celebrate the day of their death as the day of their birth in heaven.
Moreover, the liturgical calendar also mentions the martyrdom of St. John the Baptist, celebrated on August 29. John the Baptist is struck by his holiness, a life full of asceticism and penance, strength of character and uncompromising attitude. He was the first saint to be worshiped in the entire Church.
To Saint John is dedicated the Roman basilica in Lateran, where the popes had their seat for almost 1000 years.
“Celebrating the martyrdom of Saint John the Baptist reminds us too, Christians of this time, that with love for Christ, for his words and for the Truth, we cannot stoop to compromises. The Truth is Truth; there are no compromises. Christian life demands, so to speak, the “martyrdom” of daily fidelity to the Gospel, the courage, that is, to let Christ grow within us and let him be the One who guides our thought and our actions. However, this can happen in our life only if we have a solid relationship with God. Prayer is not time wasted, it does not take away time from our activities, even apostolic activities, but exactly the opposite is true: only if we are able to have a faithful, constant and trusting life of prayer will God himself give us the ability and strength to live happily and serenely, to surmount difficulties and to witness courageously to him. St. John the Baptist intercede for us, that we may be ever able to preserve the primacy of God in our life.” (Benedict XVI, General Audience, August 29, 2012)
Saint John the Baptist is the patron saint of Austria, France, the Netherlands, Malta, Germany, Provence, and Hungary; Aquitaine, Aragon; Archdiocese of Warsaw and Wrocław; Amiens, Avignon, Bonn, Florence, Frankfurt am Main, Cologne, Leipzig, Lyon, Naples, Nuremberg, Nysa, Vienna, Wrocław; He is the patron of many orders, incl. Knights Hospitaller (Knights of Malta), monks, virgins, shepherds and herds, blacksmiths, tailors, furriers, saddlers; abstainers, unmarried mothers, condemned to death. He is an advocate during hailstorms and epilepsy.
In the iconography of St. John is depicted as a child, young man or ascetic man, wearing animal skin or a camel's coat. Its attributes are: the Lamb of God, a lamb on his shoulder, a lamb with a chalice, a boy playing with a lamb, In the eastern tradition, especially in icons, it is shown as a herald with wings.
Until Tomorrow
fr. george