Dear Parishioners of Mary Immaculate and Saint Rose,

June 24th is the Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist.  Normally, the Church celebrates the feasts of saints on the date of their death, but John the Baptist has two feast days in the Church year: one for his birth on June 24, and one for his death on August 29.  This is because of his important role in preparing the way for Jesus the Messiah.

From early on, John was a witness to the presence of Jesus.  At the Visitation, when Mary greeted Elizabeth, the infant John leaped in her womb in recognition of the presence of the Christ Child in the womb of the Virgin Mary.
The birth of John the Baptist occurs as the days once again begin to shorten.  This is to complement that on the birthday of Jesus, December 25, the days begin to grow longer.  It has to do with the proclamation of John in the Gospel of John 3:30, “He must increase while I must decrease.”

John is sanctified by the presence of Jesus even before he is born.  He is consecrated by God from the time he is conceived in the womb of Elizabeth.  His birth, like that of Jesus, is miraculous.  Jesus is born of a young virgin.  John is born of an older woman, past the age of childbearing, who has given up all hope of giving birth to a child.

John spends his youth in the desert preparing for his task of pointing to the Messiah.  He comes forth from the desert, where he has encountered God and grown in holiness.  He emerges as a prophet proclaiming that the Lord is near at hand.  Repent and prepare for the coming of the Lord. 

As a sign of this repentance, he performs a baptism.  This is a sign of one who seeks to be cleansed of sin.  Even John is surprised when Jesus stands before him and presents Himself for baptism.

John is fully aware the Jesus does not need to repent of sin because He is pure, holy, and totally free of any taint of sin, so he comes to the logical conclusion that Jesus does not need to be baptized.  John protested that he was not worthy to baptize Jesus, but Jesus was baptized not to free Himself from sin, but to sanctify the waters of baptism and to make it the source of new life.

John recognized that he was only a messenger of God.  He knew that one greater would come after him.  He lived his life preparing the way of the Lord.  He was faithful to what was asked of him.  Then he was put into prison and suffered martyrdom.  He was beheaded through the whim of a silly girl, but he shines in the glory of Heaven as one of our greatest saints.

John 3:36 
Whoever believes in the Son has life eternal. . .

Msgr. Cox
St. John the Baptist, Titian (1570)