Solemnity of the Birth of John the Baptist

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Our Lady of Good Counsel

Shore Road, Brooklyn, NY

Isaiah 49: 1--6

Psalm 139: 1b--3, 13--14ab, 14c--15

Acts 13: 22-26

Luke 1: 57--66, 80

Six months until Christmas Eve. A half a year from now we will all be scattered up and down the East Coast rushing here and there, frantically putting the last touches on whatever Christmas celebrations we will be involved in.

But today there is no rushing, no craziness, no singing of “Silent Night” or “Tu scendi dale stele”. On this relatively quiet June morning we gather here to celebrate the birth of the one who would point the way to the Messiah. We have the contradictions of these two feasts: a young virgin with child as opposed to an old maiden with child; a mother and father alone in a stable as opposed to relatives and friends gathered around; angels and the choirs of heaven bursting with song as opposed to a mute father. The birth of the Way, the Truth and the Life stands opposed to today’s celebration of one who would point the way. As Redemptorists, perhaps the birth of John the Baptist who we celebrate today is more of our feast than Christmas is.

Our mission as Redemptorists is not to point the way to ourselves but to be disciples who lead others to the Lord. Later on in Chapter Three of Luke’s Gospel we hear proclaimed: “"A voice of one crying out in the desert: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.” We also read “Now the people were filled with expectation, and all were asking in their hearts whether John might be the Messiah. John answered them all, saying, "I am baptizing you with water, but one mightier than I is coming. I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals.”

We often hear that the Redemptorists' mantra should come from Luke 4 when Jesus comes to Nazareth and reads from the scroll: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord." Today on this June morning, six months before the Christmas celebration perhaps we should take to heart the words of the Baptist. As we go forth at this time of transition for many in the Province perhaps all of us might be better served if we thought of ourselves as the Baptist pointing the way. We go to our ministries, some in familiar places and some in new surroundings but all with the same desire: to lead others to the Messiah.

That’s what this day is all about, not the glamour of Christmas but the ordinariness of the birth of the Baptist. I often heard that we Redemptorists are known for being close to the people, we are kitchen priests and brothers. May a little bit of the Baptist be in each one of us today and in every moment of our ministries. AMEN!