Solemnity of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist
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June 23, 2022
Elizabeth, refusing to call her son Zechariah, announces that he will be called John. Her neighbors and relatives argue with her, but her [temporarily mute] husband confirms her choice by writing, “His name is John” on a tablet. Odd though it be, in all my years I’ve never thought about the significance of that choice. I’ve now learned that John is derived from Yohanan, which in Hebrew means “graced by God” or “God is gracious.”
Jesus called John the Baptist the greatest of all the prophets who had preceded him. He said, “I tell you, among those born of women, no one is greater than John…” But he then added: “…the least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.” [Luke 7:28]
John spent a long time in the desert before going to the river Jordan. He announced the coming of God’s Kingdom and called everyone to reform their lives. He offered a baptism of repentance but told the people that someone who would baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire was coming. [Luke 3:16] He declared that he wasn’t worthy even to untie his sandals, saying of Jesus, “He must increase; I must decrease.” [John 3:30]
John appears surprised when Jesus arrived at the Jordan and asked to be baptized. He responded with, “I need to be baptized by you.” Jesus replied, “Allow it now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” [Matthew 3:14-15] Jesus, apparently, wanted to do what any devout Jew would do.
John’s importance is in his role in the history of salvation. Luke gives considerable emphasis to his birth in ways that suggest parallels to the life of Jesus. He attracted large crowds to the banks of the Jordan for his baptism and some thought he might be the Messiah. Instead, he consistently witnessed to Jesus, even telling some of his followers to go and become his disciples.
Later, when he was imprisoned, he sent his disciples to ask Jesus if he was the Messiah. Jesus’ answer showed that the Messiah was to be a figure like that of Isaiah’s Suffering Servant. John would, like Jesus, be executed. In his case, he was beheaded by Herod at the request of a young woman who had danced alluringly for the king and her demanding mother.
As an extreme ascetic, John the Baptist is not the most relatable of the saints to many of us. But his importance to our faith is underlined by his having not one but two feast days.
