Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist
Have you had the experience of gazing in sheer wonderment into a newborn baby’s eyes? If you’re a parent, I imagine you’ll recall those moments; perhaps for others it’s been with a niece, nephew, or another loved one’s child. In those marvelous moments, one can’t help but wonder, as did the people who heard of the birth of Zechariah and Elizabeth’s baby, what, then, will this child be? I remember those moments with my boys, delighting in the sheer joy of their existence and wondering, who are you? who will you become? Many times, parents talk about their hopes and dreams for their children – often those ponderings focus on what they will do or accomplish throughout their lives; where their vocational journey will take them. That phrase from today’s Gospel, what, then, will this child be? rings a base note deep within my soul. Imagine yourself now as an infant. Imagine yourself cradled in loving arms, receiving the mirroring gaze of love. Now listen and hear those evocative words spoken over you, what, then, will this child be? On this the Solemnity of the Nativity of St John the Baptist, the readings remind us that just as God chose and called John, God also chose and calls each one of us. Today, let us discover the answer in God’s word to that question, what, then, will this child be? and let us embrace our call to shine Christ’s light to the nations.
In our first reading, the people of Israel form the subject of Isaiah’s announcement. By extrapolation we hear John the Baptist’s voice making his own affirmation, and indeed any child of God throughout all of time can voice these life-giving words. Today, let us join our voices in declaring these truths from the Isaiah text over ourselves:
The Lord called me from birth,
From my mother’s womb he gave me my name
He made of me a sharp-edged sword
He made me a polished arrow
You are my servant, he said to me, through whom I show my glory
My reward is with the Lord, my recompense is with my God
I am made glorious in the sight of the Lord
My God is now my strength!
Psalm 139 gloriously gushes the inherent dignity and worth of every human person. If you have time, I encourage you to read it in its entirety today. From today’s selection, we can declare boldly,
I am fearfully, wonderfully made; wonderful are your works
I pray today that each of us can believe, with a little more confidence, I am wonderful because all God’s works are wonderful.
Today’s readings point to key figures in salvation history: the people of Israel, King David, St John the Baptist. This group shares a common purpose, as Isaiah identifies at the end of today’s passage: to be a light to the nations, that God’s salvation may reach to the ends of the earth. As we consider our own lives, let us return to the question posed about John the Baptist, what, then, will this child be? Today, let our answer be, this child is chosen and called, fearfully and wonderfully made, a light to the nations. May we reflect that reality today and always in our thoughts, our words, and our actions. Amen!
- Elizabeth Wourms