Post-feast of Theophany; the Synaxis of the Holy and Glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John
Abstention from meat and foods that contain meat
Acts 19:1-8; John 1:29-34
Read John 1:29-34
Christ is born! Glorify Him!
As is customary in our Church, we celebrate the synaxis (or gathering) of a particular saint which is associated with a feast the day after the feast itself. For example, right after Christmas Day we celebrated Christ’s mother, the Theotokos. Today, after Theophany, we celebrate the Forerunner, John the Baptist.
Through his radical life of asceticism and repentance, John was given the incredible grace of providing a prophetic witness to us and his hearers about who Jesus really is. The title “Lamb of God” points to the sacramental dimension of Jesus’ mission: the Passover lambs provided the blood of divine protection for Israel and their flesh was eaten in the liturgical meal. Likewise, Christ will be the “Suffering Servant” of Israel and all the world in His passion, death and Resurrection. His Body and Blood will be offered up for the life of the world.
John is great because he points away from himself and towards Christ. Let us emulate his life of decreasing ourselves to increase Christ’s saving mission in the world!