Birthdays
are a special time to remember and give thanks for the blessings that have come
our way. Are you grateful for the ways that God has worked in your life, even
from your birth? In many churches of the East and West the birth of John the
Baptist is remembered on this day. The friends of Zechariah and Elizabeth marveled at the wonderful way in which God
blessed them with a child. This child was destined by God for an important
mission. The last verses in the last book of the Old Testament, taken from the
prophet Malachi, speak of the Lord’s messenger, the prophet Elijah who will
return to “turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of
children to their fathers” (Malachi 4:6). We see the beginning of the
fulfillment of this word when the Angel Gabriel announced to Zechariah the
marvelous birth and mission of John the Baptist (Luke 1:17). When this newly
born child was about to be named, as customary on the eighth day, his relatives
quibbled over what name to give him. (Don’t relatives today often do the same
when the time comes for naming a newborn?) This child, however has been named
from above! And Elizabeth is firm in her faith and determined to see that God
be glorified through this child. The name John means "the Lord is
gracious". In the birth of John and in the birth of Jesus the Messiah we
see the grace of God breaking forth into a world broken by sin and without
hope. John’s miraculous birth shows the mercy and favor of God in preparing his
people for the coming of its Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
John the
Baptist's life was fueled by one burning passion – to point others to Jesus
Christ and to the coming of God's kingdom. Scripture tells us that John was
filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother's womb (Luke 1:15, 41) by
Christ himself, whom Mary had just conceived by the Holy Spirit. When Mary
visited her cousin Elizabeth, John lept in the womb of Elizabeth as they were
filled with the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:41). The fire of the Spirit dwelt in John
and made him the forerunner of the coming Messiah. John was led by the Spirit
into the wilderness prior to his ministry where he was tested and grew in the
word of God. John's clothing was reminiscent of the prophet Elijah (see Kings
1:8). John broke the prophetic silence of the previous centuries when he began
to speak the word of God to the people of Israel. His message was similar to
the message of the Old Testament prophets who chided the people of God for their
unfaithfulness and who tried to awaken true repentance in them. Among a people
unconcerned with the things of God, it was his work to awaken their interest,
unsettle them from their complacency, and arouse in them enough good will to
recognize and receive Christ when he came.
What is
the significance of John the Baptist and his message for our lives? When God
acts to save us he graciously fills us with his Holy Spirit and makes our faith
come "alive" to his promises. Each and every day the Lord is ready to
renew us in faith, hope, and love. Like John the Baptist, the Lord invites each
of us to make our life a free-will offering to God. God wants to fill us with
his glory all the days of our lives, from birth through death. Renew the
offering of your life to God and give him thanks for his mercy and favor
towards you.
I hope you
are enjoying our beautiful weather!
Fr. Phil
