Solemnity of the
Nativity of St. John the Baptist
(Isaiah 49:1-6; Acts 13:22-26; Luke 1:57-66.80)
John the Baptist has been called a figure of both the Old
and the New Testament. His parents are
pious Jewish people awaiting the redemption of Israel. John himself preaches the coming of the
Messiah. One is reminded of the
Victorian poem saying: “Wandering between two worlds, one dead the other
powerless to be born…” This straddling
two worlds may be found in today’s gospel.
John’s parents go through with the old custom of naming
their child as he is presented for circumcision. But contrary to the tradition, they do not
choose the name of Zechariah, his father.
Rather they name him “John” as the angel Zechariah saw in a vision
mandated. “John” means “The Lord has
shown favor.” God has shown favor on Zechariah
and Elizabeth as he had on Abraham and Sarah by granting them a child in their
old age. But more importantly, John
becomes the herald of the greatest favor God has bestowed on anyone. He announces to the world the coming of God’s
only begotten Son.
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