Posted by The WORD in other words (2009) by Fr Lino Nicasio SVD – St Jude Catholic School, Manila
Nativity of Saint John the Baptist
Relatives and friends can be trying at times. Most of the time they mean well, but instead of helping, they usually end up complicating matters. Take the birth of St. John the Baptist for instance — where neighbors and relatives wanted to have a say in naming the infant. Only the intervention of Zechariah who insisted on naming the child “John” saved the situation.
However, the same well-meaning people in the Gospel asked the question we wish to reflect upon: “What, then, will this child be?”
In the first place, the Gospel says of the infant John: “the hand of the Lord was with him.” If a father and child are walking, and the father’s hand or arm are upon the child, you can be sure no harm will come upon the child. Hence this mean that the blessing of God would rest on the future Baptist.
The Gospel also says of the child John: that he would “grow and become strong in spirit.” John would be needing this, not only because of his Spartan life in the desert, but also of his task of preach boldly and even fiercely about the need of conversion unto the Lord.
And finally, the Gospel mentions about John’s sojourn in the desert. The desert is known not only as a harsh place, but also as a place for reflection, detachment and preparation for one’s mission for life. In the desert, John was preparing himself for his coming task as the “voice of one crying in the wilderness,” preparing the way of the Savior.
As we celebrate the birthday of St. John the Baptist, we are reminded that we too are special in God’s eyes: that His loving arms are protecting us, that we too can grow in the grace of God, and that we should be always ready to do God’s will, wherever and whenever He wills.
May the Baptist’s wholehearted response to God be an example for us always.
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