“John the Baptist appeared”
In today’s Gospel reading we hear again a call of repentance. In Chapters three and four of Matthew’s gospel, we hear the words “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” [1] This is the first phrase that comes from the mouths of both Saint John the Baptist and Our Lord as they begin to preach. It is this mere, simple man who utters the very same words as Our Lord. John’s proximity to Our Lord makes him very different than any other man of his time. He is definitely a man worth paying attention too.
Who was John the Baptist? Most of our knowledge about John the Baptist comes from the Gospels. He was the son of Zechariah and Elizabeth. Zechariah was an elderly priest at the time of John’s birth and Elizabeth was sterile, but was able to conceive John through the power of God. [2] Elizabeth is the cousin of Mary and her pregnancy was made known to Our Lady by the angel Gabriel as a sign that “nothing will be impossible with God”. [3] Mary then travels to visit her cousin and when she greets Elizabeth, the infant John leaps for joy in her womb. [4]
The angel Gabriel, who appeared to Mary to announce the birth of Jesus, also appeared to Zechariah to announce the birth of John. Unlike Mary however, Zechariah questions the angel “how shall I know this?” and, as a consequence of his unbelief, he was made mute. [5] Gabriel says to him, “I am Gabriel, who stand before God. I was sent to speak to you and to announce to you this good news. But now you will be speechless and unable to talk until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled at the proper time.” [6]
Both Our Lady and Zechariah’s canticles are remembered daily in the liturgy of the Church as she prays the Benedictus (Canticle of Zechariah from Luke 1:68-79) each morning at lauds and the Magnificat (Canticle of Mary from Luke 1:46-55) each evening at vespers.
ACTIVITY – Mary and Zechariah
Chant or read both the Benedictus and the Magnificat. What are the similarities between Our Lady’s response and the response of Zechariah?
Saint John the Baptist has two feast days in the Church year, one is his birth and the other his beheading. We celebrate the birth of Saint John the Baptist on June 24. He was conceived six months before Christ was conceived. We know it was six months by the words of the angel Gabriel, “And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren." [7]
There is a reason that these two people, Jesus and John are connected not only in the Gospel and in their mission, but also in the liturgical year. The season of Advent comes to us during the darkest and coldest time of the year, when it is as if all of creation is in need of heat and light. The shortest and darkest day of the year is the winter solstice, December 21st. The nativity of our Lord, the birth of He who is the light of the world and the warmth of all souls, occurs just three days after the solstice, during the cold and dark days of the year. The longest and brightest day of the year is the summer solstice, June 21st. The nativity of Saint John the Baptist, the forerunner of our Lord, comes three days after the summer solstice during the warm and bright days of the year. From the summer solstice on, the days will become shorter, darker, and in time colder. The feast of the birth of Saint John the Baptist reminds us that things are getting darker and colder, but prepares us and gives us hope that in the dark and cold a Savior will be born. The canticle of Zechariah, which is prayed every morning in the Church says, “In the tender compassion of our God the dawn from on high shall break upon us, to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace.” [8]
What did John the Baptist look like? We know that John the Baptist lived a very austere life. He lived off the land around him, dressed in clothing made of camel hair, eating food of grasshoppers and honey. He is a man who completely detached from everything and living a life of penance in the desert. Saint John the Baptist is living in the tradition of the Old Testament prophets, of which he is the last. We see in the 2nd book of Kings that Saint John the Baptist’s life is after the pattern of the prophet Elijah. “The king asked them, ‘What was the man like who came up to you and said these things to you?’ ‘Wearing a hairy garment,’ they replied, ‘with a leather girdle about his loins.’ ‘It is Elijah the Tishbite!’ he exclaimed.” [9] “His example invites us to look with inside ourselves, within the desert of our hearts. We should look into this interior to await the coming of Christ in deep meditation, silence, and solitude, as much as our state in life permits. Lastly, we should holdfast and persevere in the waiting in spite of discouragements.” [10]
What did John the Baptist do? Like Jesus, there is little known about John’s childhood and upbringing. We see his first actions of public ministry in today’s Gospel reading. He began preaching and baptizing people in the Jordan River. He was baptizing people from all of Judea, Jerusalem, and the whole area around the Jordan River as it says in Scripture. [11] “His whole life’s mission was to prepare a people for Jesus capable of receiving the Kingdom of God. God, even while in his mother’s womb, determined this vocation.” [12] John’s entire life is a testimony to Christ, from his recognition of Christ in Elizabeth’s womb to his admittance that “a man is coming after me who ranks ahead of me because he existed before me.” [13] In the Gospel of John, John the Baptist immediately recognizes Christ and proclaims “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world.” [14]
Remainder of John’s life Soon after his preaching at the Jordan, John was arrested and thrown in prison by order of Herod. John the Baptist spoke out against an unlawful union between Herod and Herodias, the wife of Herod’s brother, Philip. At the birthday feast of Herod, the daughter of Herodias performed a dance for King Herod. It delighted him so much that he promised to give her anything she asked for. The daughter went to her mother who prompted her to ask for the head of John the Baptist. Although distressed, King Herod ordered it, and brought the head to her. John the Baptist’s followers collected his body and gave a proper burial. [15]
How was John the Baptist looked at by the people in that day? In today’s culture, if we saw someone like this we would think he was crazy! But in those days, many were so impressed by him that they mistook him for the Messiah. However, as we know in today’s Gospel he told of one greater than he to come. The common people revered him while the Pharisees showed their disdain for him by refusing to be baptized. [16] The Pharisees were comfortable in their own self-righteousness. Since they thought to themselves “we have Abraham as our Father” they assumed they were fine, not in need of saving or help. Saint John the Baptist, wakes them up by calling them a “brood of vipers.” He tells them and us that this is a wounded world and we do not have a perfect life, but instead need are in need of a savior and in need of repentance. He challenges all people with the uncomfortable truth that God “will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” This adds a sense of urgency to his call to repentance.
What are things in our society that wake us up to the reality that this is an imperfect world and that our lives are imperfect? We experience sin everyday, from an inappropriate bumper sticker on the car in front of us en route to school or work, to the violence and disrespect for human life in a song or video. From the sin we find in offensive ads on the Internet to the negative effect of unjust wages and the objectification of people. Saint John the Baptist cries out for us to “produce good fruit as evidence of your repentance.” Christian life is a life of repentance that we are called to lead each day of our life, not only during Lent and Advent. “Repentance is the beginning, middle and end of the Christian way of life.” [17]
The world, now and at the time of Saint John the Baptist, proves that just as the “fruits” of repentance can be seen, so also the “fruits” of sin and stubbornness can be seen. We may try to ignore the reality of sin, but that is also dangerous. Ayn Rand, an American novelist/philosopher/playwright/screenwriter said, “We can ignore reality, but we cannot ignore the consequence of ignoring reality.” The “fruits” spoken of in this Gospel are the consequences, either good or bad, of reality. When we repent and change our lives, we are able to produce good fruits, but if we chose not to repent of our wicked ways then we will only be able to produce bad fruits. If we acknowledge the fruit (consequence) we must also acknowledge the tree (the action). John Paul II tells us that the fruits of sin can add up in society, it is “the fruit of many sins which lead to ‘structures of sin.’” [18]
Search Lesson: What is Sin?
Search Lesson: The Effects of Sin
What are some examples of “structures of sin” that are deeply rooted society and show us that in deed there is need of repentance? We think of industries based on sin and the sum of sins, such as abortion, pornography, sex trafficking, prostitution, etc. Just as it is important to end these “structures of sin” it is equally important to not just ignore them as if they are invisible, or push them out of our community into another. We can no longer pretend we live in a sinless world. The Gospel speaks of avoiding sin and pursuing good. It is only possible to avoid something that actually exists. We cannot pretend that sin does not exist. We must acknowledge sin and the sum of sins, which are called the “structures of sin.” After we have acknowledged that sin does indeed exist, then we must work to avoid sin. Pope Paul VI said that the greatest sin of the century (20th Century) was the loss of the sense of sin.
Why is John teaching “repentance” in today’s Gospel? John preaches on repentance to prepare everyone for the Lord, the one for whom they had been longing. He preached so that we might have hope in the Lord who was to come with “the Holy Spirit and fire.” The reference to “fire” was probably, in John’s view, a reference to judgment. In faith we receive the sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit and Saint Peter tells us that our faith will be tested through fire. “In this you rejoice, although now for a little while you may have to suffer through various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold that is perishable even though tested by fire, may prove to be for praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” [19] The Lord came to his people to tame the wicked, stop the ruin, and bring salvation. However, a thing can only be received if the one who is receiving it is ready to receive it. [20] This is why John was sent before the Lord to call out then, as he is calling out now to us, to repent so that we may receive Jesus.
What was the purpose of John baptizing? The purpose of John baptizing in the desert was to prepare people for Jesus. What is the purpose of the Sacrament of Baptism in the Church? It is to receive Christ. The Sacrament of Baptism is “the door” in which we begin to live a sacramental life. One must first be baptized before receiving the other sacraments. Confirmation for example is the gift of strength that completes and fortifies baptismal grace. “Like Baptism which it completes, Confirmation is given only once, for it too imprints on the soul an indelible spiritual mark, the “character,” which is the sign that Jesus Christ has marked a Christian with the seal of his Spirit by clothing him with power from on high so that he may be his witness.” [21] The Sacrament of Confirmation is a personal Pentecost in which that first Pentecost is perpetuated to each soul.
How are Baptism and Confirmation linked? The sacrament of Confirmation “completes Baptism” [22] and “brings an increase and deepening of baptismal grace.” [23] Just as baptism prepares us to live the Sacramental Life, Confirmation prepares us to answer the call of Christ. Specifically, to “go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” [24] In this command of Christ we see faith (baptize them) and morals (teaching them to observe). Confirmation therefore prepares us to go out into battle, to be true believers and disciples of Christ by leading lives of faith and morals. “It gives us a special strength…to spread and defend the faith by word and action as true witnesses of Christ, to confess the name of Christ boldly, and never to be ashamed of the Cross.” [25] Saint John the Baptist shows us that we are called both to a Sacramental Life and to evangelize all nations by bringing the life of Christ to the World. Baptism is the door into the Sacramental Life; Confirmation is the door into the life of evangelization, the life of a martyr (which comes from the Greek word for witness).
Search Lesson: Confirmation: Completes Baptismal Grace
Are there those who refuse to enter through the two doors of Baptism and Confirmation? Yes! Some refuse to enter Baptism and thus don’t want to open themselves to the sacramental life. Some are baptized but refuse to live a sacramental life. Some are baptized but don’t want to enter through the door of Confirmation because they are afraid to “go out into the world” as a martyr and witness to Christ.
[1] Matthew 3:2 (Saint John the Baptist); Matthew 4:17 (Jesus)
[2] Luke 1:13
[3] Luke 1:37
[4] Luke 1:41
[5] Luke 1:18
[6] Luke 1:19-20
[7] Luke 1:36
[8] Gospel Canticle; Luke 1:68-79
[9] 2 Kings 1:8
[10] Roman Breviary Divine Intimacy pg. 24
[11] Matthew 3:5
[12] In conversation with God pg. 58
[13] John 1:15
[14] John 1:29
[15] Matthew 14:3-12
[16] Modern Catholic Dictionary pg. 295
[17] Saint Gregory Palamas
[18] Pope John Paul II; Sollicitudo Rei Socialis; 37
[19] 1 Peter 1:6-7
[20] Magnificat Monthly Vol. 12, No. 10 pg. 76
[21] Catechism of the Catholic Church; 1304
[22] Catechism of the Catholic Church; 1304
[23] Catechism of the Catholic Church; 1303
[24] Matthew 28:19-20
[25] Cathecism of the Catholic Church; 1303