St. John the Baptist

The parish where I reside is under the patronage of St. John the Baptist. There is a beautiful statue of St. John baptizing Jesus above the high altar. Today, this June 24, happens to be the Solemnity of the Birth of St. John the Baptist. The Church does not celebrate that many birthdays. The main birthday, of course, is the birth of Jesus on December 25. Then there is the birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary on September 8. The final birthday is what we celebrate today, St. John the Baptist. The reason these birthdays are celebrated is that each person had a specific role in salvation history. St. John the Baptist is the forerunner or the herald of the Messiah. Scripture tells us that John was out in the desert preaching a message of repentance and baptizing. In the midst of his preaching he told the people that one was coming that was more powerful than he. John said he was not fit to unfasten the sandals of his feet. Like John, we are called to be the heralds of our Lord. We need to preach the Good News, not just with words, but with our very lives. May we have the courage to do so. St. John the Baptist, pray for us!!!