On June 24, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist. Luke’s Gospel (Luke 1:36) tells us that St. John was conceived six months before Jesus, so the timing makes sense. However, it is almost as if Mother Nature participates in our worship when you consider that in many countries, Christmas Eve comes at a time when every day that follows brings a little more daylight to the world. The Solemnity of the Annunciation is celebrated on March 25, exactly nine months before the birth of Jesus, at the beginning of spring, another time of increasing light.  

The Nativity of St. John the Baptist arrives at the beginning of summer. As beautiful as the days are this time of year, every day following the celebration of his birth there is a little less daylight in the world. Many homilists over the years have noticed this pattern in our liturgical calendar and playfully connect the Nativity of St. John the Baptist to his words in the Gospel, “He must increase; I must decrease” (John 3:30).  

St. John the Baptist is a remarkable figure in Scripture because he represents a bridge between the Old Testament and the New Testament in the sense that he is the last of the great prophets. St. John the Baptist also gave his life as a witness to the sanctity of marriage when Herod had him beheaded after speaking out against the king’s unlawful marriage (Mark 6:17-29, Matthew 14:3-12). This gives us something to think about when we reflect on the sacrament of marriage in our Church today.  

However, St. John the Baptist is the greatest of the prophets because his ministry pointed directly to Jesus and prepared the way for him. He said, “I am baptizing you with water, for repentance, but the one who is coming after me is mightier than I. I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the holy Spirit and fire” (Matthew 3:11). 

My friends, as spring transitions into summer, the Solemnity of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist offers us an opportunity to take a fresh look at our lives and prayerfully consider: What are the areas of my life that need to decrease so that the Lord will increase? Are there ways my life could be less about “me” and more about “him?” Is my life more oriented toward the building up of Jesus’ kingdom on earth, as the missionary disciples Pope Francis calls us to be, or am I focused more on the building up of my own kingdom? 

These are interesting questions because, liturgical calendars and fun facts aside, the only reason why we remember St. John the Baptist at all is because his life genuinely pointed to Jesus. As the seasons transition into centuries, will the same be said of us? 

Read the rest of the June/July 2023 issue of Northwest Catholic here.