Sermon – Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist – June 24, 2026

Today the Church joyfully celebrates the birth of John the Baptist .

This holiday is very special because the Church usually celebrates the death anniversaries of saints, not their birthdays .

This is because, in the Christian understanding, death is not the end, but the birth into eternal life . The day of the death of the saints is the day they are reborn into a new life in eternal union with God.

However, the Church also celebrates the birthdays of certain special individuals, such as Jesus Christ, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and John the Baptist, because their arrival in the world holds a unique place in God's plan of salvation .

In the first reading, the prophet Isaiah says:

The Lord called me while I was in my mother's womb (Isaiah 49:1).

These words were fulfilled in a special way in John the Baptist. Even before his birth, he was chosen by God and tasked with preparing the way for the coming of the Messiah .

When Mary visited her cousin Elizabeth, who was pregnant with Jesus, an extraordinary event occurred: upon hearing Mary's greeting, the child leaped with joy in her womb.

This was no ordinary act; John the Baptist recognized the existence of Christ even before he was born . Filled with the Holy Spirit, John touched God's grace in his mother's womb and joyfully welcomed the coming of the Savior .

In the Bible as we know it today, we see the birth of John and the astonishment of the neighbors. When Zechariah wrote down that the child's name was John, his tongue was loosened, and he praised God.

Everyone asks the question, "What will this child become?" The answer is revealed throughout his life: He will be an herald of Christ , a prophet preparing the way of the Lord.

So what does a prophet do?

We often think of a prophet as someone who foretells the future.

However, in the Bible, a prophet is first and foremost someone who speaks in God's name , conveys His word to people, and guides them towards God.

A true prophet draws people's attention not to himself, but to God .

John the Baptist did exactly that. He sought no fame, glory, or power for himself. His mission was to guide people to Jesus . When he saw Jesus, he said:

Here is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.

And he said again: “He must grow, and I must shrink.”

John knew that the purpose of his entire life was to bring people together with Jesus .

Today we too are called to be prophets . Perhaps we don't preach to crowds, but we can proclaim Jesus through our lives, our words, and our actions.

We are like John the Baptist in these situations:

• When we live our faith consistently,

• When we defend the truth with love,

• When we invite someone to Mass,

• When we teach our children to pray,

• When we bear witness with honesty, forgiveness, and love,

• When we place Christ at the center of our lives.

The world today still needs people like John the Baptist . Many people know a lot of things, but they don't truly know Jesus Christ .

God wants to use us to guide people towards Him .

On this feast day, let us seek the intercession of John the Baptist. Let us emulate his humility, courage, and faithfulness .

Let us show people Jesus through our lives and live by these words every day:

Prepare the way of the Lord.

May the Virgin Mary help us to become prophets in such a needy world.