Dear Parish Family,
 

Birth of John the Baptist June 24
And we are prophets too …

Today we celebrate the birth of John the Baptist, the patron saint of our parish. The birth of John caused great rejoicing, because his parents Zachary and Elizabeth, were advanced in years and had just about given up hope of ever having children. Their strong faith in God proved that nothing is impossible with Him.

Not only the birth of John but also the naming caused a great deal of comment. Because Jewish children in those days were usually given names that were familiar among the parents’ families. The name ‘John’ was not such a name, but that was what the angel had told Zachary to give him. This had come especially from God. In Hebrew, John means “gift of God”, and it expressed his parent’s unexpected joy. And when Zachary approved the name and recovered his speech, it was one more event that caused a sensation.

John the Baptist was a great servant of God, and we sing, “You, child will be called prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways” (Luke 1:76).  John became a fearless prophet who preached conversion and repentance in the midst of a difficult society.  A prophet who first called attention to Jesus and who prepared and paved the way for him.

We may not all be named ‘John’ but all of us are a ‘gift of God’ and anointed to be prophets from the very moment of our Baptism. As prophets we too are called to be messengers of hope and conversion, pointing to Christ and preparing the way for him.

So let us not be silent like Zachary was before he acknowledged the wonderful ‘gift of God’. But let us become strong in the spirit, to speak with courage against evil in the world. To share our faith and to bear witness to the Way of Jesus in our lives through our words, actions and deeds. To prepare the way for Jesus to enter into the lives of others around us.
 

In Persona Christi Servi,
Deacon Rob Pang