Today’s Solemnity of the Birth of John the Baptist is truly unique among the saints. Not only is it one of only three birthdays celebrated on the Church calendar – the others being the birth of Jesus on Christmas and the birth of Mary on September 8 – but it’s actually a higher order of celebration than even Mary’s birthday. September 8 is what’s called a feast day, whereas today we celebrate what’s called a solemnity. So, for instance, if September 8 happens to fall on a Sunday, we don’t celebrate Mary’s birthday that year. But if June 24 falls on a Sunday, we still celebrate St. John the Baptist.
Celebrating God's Gift
Now, why on earth am I bringing up all this technical, nerdy, liturgical calendar stuff? Because there’s actually great and beautiful meaning behind it all. Normally, saints’ feast days are celebrated on the day they died; this marks their entrance into eternal life with God, total friendship with God. And while we do celebrate Mary’s Assumption into heaven, we also mark with a Solemnity, not her birth, but her Conception, because by a unique grace, she was conceived in total friendship with God from the very first moment of her existence. So what about John the Baptist? Well, he definitely was conceived in original sin. But there is a very ancient Church tradition that interprets Scripture to mean that when Mary greeted Elizabeth, and the Holy Spirit touched the aged mother’s womb, and pre-born John leapt for joy, at this moment, grace cleansed John from sin so that he could be born in this friendship with God. In all cases, Mary, John the Baptist, and the other saints, we are not really celebrating their greatness; we are celebrating God’s gift, God’s grace, that makes eternal life possible, for them and for us.
And today we can see how this grace at John the Baptist’s birth instantly bore great fruit for all around him. His father Zechariah had been struck mute for disbelieving the Archangel Gabriel’s promise. Today, at the birth and circumcision of his son, Zechariah is inspired to embrace God’s will, symbolized by his decision to give his newborn son the promised name, even in the face of pressure from others to name the child after himself. For this act of humility and faithfulness, Zechariah regains his speech and immediately proclaims one of the great hymns in all of Scripture, the Benedictus, which inspires wonder in his neighbors, and which the Church still sings every day at Morning Prayer.
Celebrating God's Grace
Each of us here has received the grace of our own Baptism and Eucharist and Confirmation, our initiation into the life of Christ, which has set us on our path toward full friendship with God. Our Catholic Faith is not the result of our own greatness or merit, but the result of God’s gift. And God offers us this gift not that we might horde it, but that His gift to us might bear fruit and become a blessing to our homes, our families, and our neighbors.
- Today’s Readings
- Father Charlie's inspirational homily was recorded live during Mass at the Father Peyton Center this morning. You can view the Mass (and the Rosary at the 30-minute mark) on the Family Rosary YouTube page.
- To join the Rosary and Mass Livestream, visit the Family Rosary YouTube or Facebook page at 11:30 a.m. Eastern, Monday – Friday. Consider inviting others to join, too! (*If you are not a member of Facebook and a signup window appears, simply select the X at the top of the pop-up message and continue to the livestream.)
