Fr. Frank Majka, SJ – The Bridge

The Baptist

June 24 is the feast of the birth of John the Baptist. He is one of only three people in the church calendar whose birthday is a major feast (Jesus and Mary are the other two), and he appears in every gospel, as if the story of Jesus would be incomplete if he were not part of it. He was, according to Jesus, a “voice crying in the wilderness,” preparing the way for Jesus and pointing him out when he appeared.

John told people that they needed to get ready for the coming of the Messiah by giving up their normal way of doing things (especially their faults and sins) because, when the Kingdom of God came, things would be different. John’s baptism was the sign they were ready to change.

John also said that he himself didn’t know who the Messiah was until the Holy Spirit revealed it at Jesus’ baptism. But once he knew Jesus was the One, he immediately told his disciples to seek out Jesus and follow him, not John. John was the “best man,” but Jesus was the bridegroom.

We make so many efforts to put ourselves in the spotlight, tout our talents, and try to let people how important we are. John’s whole life, on the contrary, was pointed away from himself and, instead, directed towards Jesus’ coming and message.

We can take inspiration from John’s example and try to make sure that, especially by the way we live and treat others, we are pointing to Christ and his Kingdom.

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