Solemnity of the
Nativity of Saint John the Baptist
(Isaiah 49:1-6; Acts
13:22-26; Luke 1:57-66.80)
When Josef Ratzinger,
who became Pope Benedict XVI, was just ordained, the Bavarian village where he
grew up celebrated their new priest. It
was a grand affair with just about everyone participating. Ratzinger remembered years later that he had
to tell himself, “This is not about you, Josef, this is not about you.” He knew that the people were excited about
having one of their own becoming “another Christ.” They loved the Lord so much that they exalted
in knowing that one among them would take his place in providing the
sacraments. John the Baptist said
something like what Josef Ratzinger said to himself as crowds gathered to hear
him preach.
John was evidently a
powerful preacher. St. Matthew recalls
in his gospel how people from all Judea came to hear his speak. Many became so convinced by his words that
they proclaimed him the Messiah. But
John knew that he was only the herald of the one who was to redeem Israel. As Paul testifies in today’s reading from
Acts, he told the people, “I am not he.”
John gives us an
important lesson here. He was not the
Messiah, nor are we although sometimes we think of ourselves in that way. We will be rudely abused of that attitude someday. That will be a blessing. If we don’t give up the attitude, it will
deprive us of knowing salvation from Jesus, the true Messiah.