Nativity of the Honourable and Glorious Prophet John, Forerunner and Baptist of Christ.
All-Night Vigil Feast. Apostles’ Fast. A day when the faithful are highly encouraged to participate in the Divine Liturgy.
Romans 13:11b-14:4. Luke 1:1-25, 57-68, 76, 80.
Read Romans 13:11b-14:4
Today we celebrate the birth of the final and greatest of the Old Covenant prophets: John the Baptist.
What is a prophet? A prophet is a messenger from God—someone chosen by God to deliver a message to the world or to a particular place and time. A prophet is a person of deep prayer and communion with God—otherwise he or she cannot know God’s will or communicate it effectively. A prophet is bold and fearless because the message to be delivered often is met with blowback or worse (see how John’s life ended…).
While the era of ‘the prophets’ has ended with John, the era of prophecy from God remains among us. All of us are called to be prophets! By our baptism, we are joined to Christ is His triple role of priest, king, and prophet. Yes, you, dear reader, and I are called in some way to communicate God’s will to the world around us. You, dear reader, and I are called to a life of deep prayer, profound communion with God, and boldness and fearlessness.
How do I know to whom to deliver God’s message? Well, do you have a family, a workplace, or a social circle? Start there. The people closest to you are your primary ‘targets’ for prophecy—God put them into your life for a reason.
How do I know how to deliver God’s message? That’s a trickier question because it requires strategy, wisdom, and calculated risk. It might mean telling your children about God’s will for us in age-appropriate ways. It might mean standing up for what is right and good when your employer promotes evil. It might mean risking friendships and other relationships when revealing that you are a believer in Christ. It might mean sewing the seed of faith in a coworker who is seeking God when you tell them over lunch about what the Lord has done for you.
And, finally, what is the message? Look to the Epistle. Paul wrote this, but surely John the Baptist would have communicated the same to those who approached him for baptism. Stay close to the Lord in prayer. Stay close to the Lord in the sacraments and the Liturgy of the Church.
Make Christ the centre of everything you are and do. That alone is an act of prophecy.