Today, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist. Luke’s Gospel describes the birth of Elizabeth’s and Zechariah’s son, followed by the baby’s circumcision and naming ceremony on the eighth day. In the presence of relatives and friends, Elizabeth breaks the tradition of naming the child for his father or another family member when she announces: “No. He will be called John” (Luke 1:60), which means “God is Gracious.” Zechariah miraculously regains his ability to speak after declaring in writing, “John is his name” (Luke 1:63). The Gospel of Luke tells us that “All who heard these things took them to heart, saying, ‘What, then, will this child be” (Luke 1:66).
This child who was named “God is Gracious” grew into a man strong in spirit, living on locusts and wild honey in the wilderness and wearing clothes made of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist. This man, whose birth was a miracle, offered baptism in the Jordan River to the people of Jerusalem and throughout, so they might repent of their sins. John’s life became a fulfillment of his father’s prophesy regarding who his son would become: “And you, child, will be called prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give his people knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God by which the daybreak from on high will visit us to shine on those who sit in darkness and death’s shadow, to guide our feet into the path of peace” (Luke 1: 76-79).
Saint John the Baptist, pray for us!
