24 June 2026 -The Nativity of St.
John the Baptist (Solemnity)
Mass Readings: Is 49:1-6 Ps 139 Acts
13:22-26 Lk 1:57-66. 80
Key Verse to Meditate: And his mother answered and said, "No
indeed; but he shall be called John" (Lk 1:60).
Dear Brothers and Sisters
in the Lord,
Today, the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Birth of St. John the
Baptist. In the liturgical calendar, the Catholic Church commemorates only three
birthdays — that of Jesus at Christmas on December 25th, Mary
on September 8th, and John the Baptist on June 24th. This
itself highlights the singular importance of John’s life and mission in the
history of salvation. As a general rule, the Church celebrates the feast of a
saint once a year, on the anniversary of the saint’s death — the day of his or
her birth into eternal life. However, in the case of St. John the Baptist, the
Church celebrates both his birth and his death. Jesus Himself declared, “Among
those born of women, no one is greater than John” (Lk 7:28). These profound
words of our Lord are likely the reason why the Church accords such special
honour to the Nativity of St. John the Baptist, which we joyfully celebrate
today. John is indeed the forerunner of Christ—the last and greatest of the
prophets—who stands at the threshold between the Old and the New Covenants.
The First Reading - Is
49:1-6
The first reading, taken from the Prophet Isaiah, presents one of the
beautiful Servant Songs that speaks about God's loving call and divine mission.
The prophet proclaims: “The Lord called
me before I was born; while I was in my mother’s womb he named me” (Isa 49:1). These
words reveal a profound truth: God's call precedes human existence. Before we
are known by the world, we are already known, loved, and chosen by God. Our
lives are never accidental; each one of us has a purpose within God's plan. The
prophet further describes how God prepared him for his mission: “He made my
mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me a
polished arrow, in his quiver he hid me away” (Isa 49:2).
These images symbolize the power, effectiveness, and protection that
accompany God's chosen servants. The “sharp sword” represents the power of
God's Word proclaimed fearlessly and truthfully. The “polished arrow” signifies
a person carefully prepared, formed, and preserved by God for a specific
mission at the appropriate time. Although this passage originally refers to the
Servant of the Lord, the Church beautifully applies it today to the feast of
the Nativity of St. John the Baptist, whose birth we celebrate with great joy.
Indeed, these words fit perfectly the life and mission of John the Baptist.
Like the Servant described by Isaiah, John was chosen even before his
birth. The angel Gabriel had already announced his mission to his father
Zechariah. John was set apart to prepare the way for the coming of the Messiah.
His entire life had one purpose: to point others toward Jesus. John became
God's “sharp sword” by courageously proclaiming the truth and calling people to
repentance. He was God's “polished arrow” sent directly into the hearts of the
people to awaken them spiritually and prepare them to receive Christ.
The Second
Reading: Acts 13:22-26
In the second reading, taken from the Acts of
the Apostles, St. Paul briefly retraces the history of salvation and recalls
God's choice of David, saying: “I have found David, son of Jesse, a man
after my own heart, who will carry out all my wishes” (Acts 13:22). From
David's lineage, God fulfilled His promise by sending Jesus, the long-awaited
Saviour, who came to accomplish perfectly the will of the Father. Before the
coming of Christ, God raised up John the Baptist to prepare His way by
preaching a baptism of repentance and calling people to conversion (Acts
13:24). One of the most striking virtues of John the Baptist was his profound
humility. Despite his popularity and influence among the people, he never drew
attention to himself but always pointed towards Christ, declaring: “One is
coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the sandals on his feet” (Acts
13:25).
As we celebrate the Solemnity of the Birth of
St. John the Baptist, we are invited to imitate his life of humility, courage,
and selfless service. John teaches us that our mission as Christians is not to
seek recognition for ourselves but to prepare hearts for Christ and lead others
to Him. In an age marked by self-promotion and the desire for attention, John
reminds us that true greatness lies in humility and faithful witness. May we
learn to echo his spirit each day: “He must increase, but I must decrease”
(Jn 3:30).
The Gospel Reading - The Visitation of the Angel to Zechariah
In the first chapter of St. Luke’s Gospel, we are told about the visitation
of the angel Gabriel to Zechariah in the Temple. The angel announced the
joyful news of the birth of a son and revealed his name in advance: “Do not
be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will
bear you a son, and you shall name him John.” (Lk 1:13)
Zechariah, however, doubted the angel’s message and became mute until the
child’s birth—a sign of punishment for his lack of faith. When he later
confirmed the name of the child as “John,” in obedience to God’s command, his
tongue was loosed, and he began to praise and bless God.
The angel’s message had also revealed the mission and vocation of
John: “You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth,
for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He must never drink wine or
strong drink; even before his birth he will be filled with the Holy Spirit. He
will turn many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. With the spirit
and power of Elijah, he will go before Him… to make ready a people prepared for
the Lord.” (Lk 1:14–17). From the beginning, therefore, John was chosen,
consecrated, and empowered by God for a special mission—to prepare the hearts
of God’s people for the coming of the Messiah.
His Name is John
When Zechariah finally wrote the words “His name is John”—which
means “God is gracious”—his mouth was opened, and he began to praise
God (Lk 1:64). What followed was his beautiful canticle, known as the Benedictus,
a hymn overflowing with thanksgiving and prophecy.
As soon as Zechariah believed without hesitation, his punishment ended, and
his faith found expression in this song of gratitude, which captured the
deepest hopes of Israel. The first part of the hymn is a praise of God’s
saving works, thanking Him for the redemption He has promised. The second
part is a prophecy about the child’s mission—that John would go before
the Lord to prepare His way, proclaiming God’s mercy and forgiveness. Zechariah foresaw that
the coming Messiah would be the “Rising Sun” who would bring light to
those in darkness and peace to those who walked in the shadow of death. His
hymn of faith and divine mercy remains a model for us today—a prayer of trust
in God’s promises and His saving love.
The Divine Purpose
The neighbourhood into which John was born did not help him recognize his
divine calling. In fact, they tried to prevent him from receiving his God-given
name and identity. They wanted to name him after his father, Zachary,
objecting to the name John because “None of your relatives has this
name” (Lk 1:61). For them, a child’s future was determined by family
heritage and lineage. Their vision for John’s life was limited by the
boundaries of tradition and ancestry. But God’s dream for us always
transcends our family background and human expectations.
The words of Isaiah in the first reading apply beautifully to John: “The
LORD called me before I was born, while I was in my mother’s womb he named me …
he formed me in the womb to be his servant” (Isaiah 49:1, 5). In John, we
see that God already has a divine purpose for each of His children even before
they enter this world. The challenge of life, then, is to discover that
purpose and remain faithful to its demands.
John the Baptist – The Expected Prophet, Elijah
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus confirms that John
the Baptist was the great prophet foretold by Scripture—the new Elijah who
was to appear before the coming of the Messiah: “From the days of John the
Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence… For all the
prophets and the law prophesied until John came; and if you are willing to
accept it, he is Elijah who is to come. Let anyone with ears listen!” (Mt
11:12–15).
John’s Birth- A Divine Intervention?
Thus, John’s birth was not just a family blessing
for Zechariah and Elizabeth — it was a divine intervention, a turning
point in salvation history. Jesus Himself would later confirm that John
was the Elijah foretold by the prophets, the one who was to come before the
Messiah: “From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven
has suffered violence... For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John
came; and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come.”
(Mt 11:12–14). John was indeed the forerunner — the voice crying out in
the wilderness, “Prepare the way of the Lord.”
In today’s second reading, from the Acts of the Apostles, we heard
St. Paul speaking at the synagogue in Antioch, reminding his listeners of
John’s vital role in preparing Israel for the coming of Jesus: “Before his
coming, John had already proclaimed a baptism of repentance to all the people
of Israel. And as John was finishing his work, he said, ‘What do you suppose
that I am? I am not he. But one is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie
the thong of the sandals on his feet.’” (Acts 13:24–25). From his very
birth, John was consecrated to God and set apart for a sacred mission
— to point the way to Christ. The Gospel concludes beautifully with the summary
of John’s growth: “The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in
the wilderness until the day he appeared publicly to Israel.” (Lk 1:80).
Filled with the Holy Spirit, he lived a life of simplicity and holiness in tune
with God’s will.
The Specific Mission to Fulfil
From his very birth, John the Baptist was set
apart by God for a unique mission—to point out and prepare the way for Christ
the Messiah. Filled with the Holy Spirit, he lived a life of deep faith and
fidelity to God’s will. St. Luke summarizes his hidden years with these words: “The
child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the
day he appeared publicly to Israel.” (Lk 1:80). Though he and Jesus were
cousins and knew of each other from the womb—“When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting,
the child leaped in her womb” (Lk 1:41)—John humbly accepted his role as
the one who must decrease so that Christ might increase.
He declared to the crowds: “I baptize you with
water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie
the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with
fire.” (Lk 3:16). John’s mission was to prepare hearts for the Messiah
through the preaching of repentance. When Jesus appeared publicly, John pointed
his own disciples toward Him, proclaiming: “Look, here is the Lamb of God!”
(Jn 1:36). And they left to follow Jesus.
John Bore Witness to Jesus
John bore witness to Jesus with all his heart and
soul: “After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me.
I myself did not know him; but I came baptizing with water so that he might be
revealed to Israel.” “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and
it remained on him. The one who sent me to baptize said, ‘He on whom you see
the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’”
(Jn 1:30–33).
For his faithfulness, Jesus Himself praised him,
saying: “Among those born of women, no one is greater than John; yet the
least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.” (Lk 7:28; Mt 11:11).
John’s greatness lay not merely in his calling, but in his humble fidelity
to it. He lived and died as a true witness—boldly proclaiming the truth even
before kings, and sealing his testimony with his blood.
Fulfilling the Purpose of God for Our Lives
God’s purpose for John required him to live in the desert,
far from ordinary human contact and the comforts of civilization. Every aspect
of his life, even the smallest details, was shaped by this divine calling. He
wore rough animal skins and ate simple food—locusts and wild honey—adopting
a lifestyle that supported and strengthened his mission. John avoided any
unnecessary trappings that might weigh him down or distract him from God’s
plan.
Similarly, to discern what God is calling us to be,
we need to cultivate a kind of “desert” in our own lives—a space of
silence, solitude, and prayer where we can listen attentively to God. From
John’s life, we learn that faithfulness to God’s call requires courage,
discipline, and the willingness to distance ourselves from associations,
habits, or lifestyles that hinder our vocation.
Points for Personal Reflection
- Am I guided by the same love and zeal to make Jesus
known to others?
- Do I, like John, prepare the way for Christ in my
words and actions?
- What does the example and message of John the
Baptist mean for my own Christian journey today?
- Am I
living the mission God has entrusted to me?
- Do my
words bring others closer to Christ?
- Am I
willing to decrease so that Christ may increase in my life?
The feast of the Nativity of St. John the
Baptist reminds us that every Christian has a God-given vocation. God has not
created any one of us without purpose. The birth of St. John the Baptist is a
celebration of God's providence and faithful love. Before we were born, God
knew us; throughout our lives, He accompanies us; and He continually calls us
to be instruments of His grace. His
famous words remain the guiding principle of every disciple: “He must
increase, but I must decrease” (Jn 3:30).
