When the time arrived for Elizabeth to have her child she gave birth to a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy toward her, and they rejoiced with her. When they came on the eighth day to circumcise the child, they were going to call him Zachariah after his father, but his mother said in reply, "No. He will be called John".
But they answered her, "There is no one among your relatives who has this name". So they made signs, asking the father what he wished him to be called. He asked for tablet and wrote, "John is his name," and all were amazed. Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed, and he spoke blessing to God. Then fear came upon all their neighbors, and all these matters were discussed throughout the hill country of Judea. All who heard these things took them to heart, saying, "What, then, will this child be?" For surely the hand of the Lord was with him. The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the desert until the day of his manifestation to Israel.
The Word in other words
With the exception of Jesus and the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. John the Baptist is the only saint whose birthday we celebrate. The importance of John's nativity gave a signal to the coming of the Messiah, Our Lord Jesus Christ. John the Baptist was considered to be the last prophet before the coming of the Song of God. His birth came under "mysterious" circumstance- barren wife gave birth to a child in her old age. Neighbors asked, " What, then, will this child be?" They asked this question because it was clear that God was with him.
John the Baptist, whose name means "God is gracious", consecrated his life to the Lord and became the precursor of the Messiah. He was the voice crying out in the wilderness, "Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand". He prepared the way for the Lord, and like the other prophets he was given the opportunity to offer his ultimate act of obedience to the will of the Father by shedding his blood.
God chose John to prepare the way for the coming of the Savior and arrange everything for him. His parents waited for his coming and they were filled with joy upon seeing him. He grew in righteousness "until the day of his manifestation to the people of Israel."
Like John, our existence in this world might be short but it will not be futile if we do the will of God, if we do what is supposed to be God's plan for us. Our mission is to be a witness to what is right and true, to bring joy to the world by living out the gospel values. John did not wish to become powerful; humbling himself before the Lord, he declared, "He must increase, I must decrease".
To live is not to possess power, glory, and riches, but to live the life in joyful humility, simplicity, righteousness, and love.
