June 24 2026 - Nativity of St. John the Baptist - God raises up heralds

St. John the Baptist has always held a place of very high esteem in the Church—this feast of his birth dates all the way back to the 4^th century. We praise John because the Lord himself praised John when he said, “I tell you, among those born of women, no one is greater than John”. 

John is rightly honored for the great role he played in salvation history. In faithfulness to his calling by God, John took the role of the precursor, the herald. His was the lone voice in the wilderness pointing others to Christ at the Lord’s first coming.

John is also honored because of his personal holiness. In a sense, he was a saint already in the womb of his mother. Still in the womb of his mother Elizabeth, John was able to detect in some mysterious way the presence of Jesus in the womb of the Blessed Mother. John leaped for joy in the presence of God made flesh, dancing like David before the ark.

John’s holiness was evident in his wisdom. The Gospels record an utterance of John giving us the very key to holiness itself: “I must decrease so that Christ may increase”. To become holy is to decrease our egos, our selfishness, and allow Christ to grow in us, in our choices, actions, behaviors, attitudes, words and thoughts.

John’s holiness of course is also evident in his martyrdom, in his willingness to die for the Truth when he spoke out about the adulterous affair of King Herod and his brother’s wife. Blessed are those persecuted for the sake of righteousness.

Today, as we celebrate John’s birth, we do well to recall that as God chose and formed John to herald Christ and witness to Truth, he calls and forms us for this purpose as well. The Collect prayer today said, God raised up Saint John the Baptist to make ready a nation fit for Christ.” We, too, are called to help souls become ready for Christ—through our words, our example, our prayers.

If there is a soul of a family member or neighbor who seems particularly resistant to Christ, we should certainly be praying and fasting for them. But their resistance is also a reminder to us, that we must decrease, so that Christ may increase, in the hope that they may meet Christ in us—in our words, in our acts of charity, in our Christian disposition.

May our celebration of St. John’s birth help us to become the heralds of Christ God made use to be, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

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That Pope Leo and all the clergy may witness to the truth of the Gospel faithfully, courageously, and compassionately.

For the protection of the unborn, and that people of goodwill will work together to enshrine the protection of the unborn in law and in the hearts of all.

For the conversion of those who do not believe in God, for Catholics who have left the Church, those guilty of heresy or schism, and for a return to the sacraments of those who have fallen into serious sin.

For the sick and afflicted, the homebound, those in nursing homes and hospitals, for victims of natural disaster,  those who suffer from war, violence, and terrorism, all victims of abuse, especially children, for the mentally ill, those with addictions, and the imprisoned, for those who struggle to live the call of Christian chastity, for the comfort of the dying and the consolation of their families.

For the deceased members of our families, friends, and parish and all the poor souls in purgatory, for deceased priests and religious, and for those who have fought and died for our freedom, for the repose of the soul of St. Joseph Father Larry Tosco, and for N. for whom this mass is offered.

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord.

 

June 24 2025 - The Nativity of St. John the Baptist - The breaking of divine silence

 When the Church celebrates the feast day of a saint, we are usually celebrating the day of the saint’s death. For example the feast of the martyr St. Charles Lwanga earlier this month was on June 3, because St. Charles was martyred on June 3, 1886.

Only three times during the year does the Church celebrate a birthday: for Jesus, for His mother…and for John the Baptist. So, the Baptist is certainly in illustrious company. That we celebrate his birthday serves to remind us just how important John is to our salvation history. Scripture doesn’t tell us of the birth of Mary or Joseph or any of the evangelists. But it records the events surrounding the birth of John.

And why? Because John’s birth marks the beginning of a great turning point in salvation history. John’s birth signals that God is on the move—that His promises, long awaited, are now being fulfilled. For roughly 400 years—since the last of the Old Testament prophets, Malachi—no new prophetic word had come to Israel. The voice of God seemed silent. The people clung to the promises of old, but many wondered if the Lord still spoke to His people.

The silence of God’s voice among His people is symbolized by the muteness of Zechariah in today’s Gospel. But with the birth of John, Zechariah’s tongue is loosened. 

John’s birth represents the breaking of the divine silence, and John’s voice will be the first prophetic voice heard in centuries: “Prepare the way of the Lord.” He will stand in the desert the last and greatest of the prophets, and the one who will point out the Messiah Himself: “Behold the Lamb of God.” John heralds the coming of God’s Word made flesh: the definitive Word of God, the perfect fulfillment of all of God’s promises—Jesus Christ. 

Today, we fittingly herald that there are 183 days until Christmas. And the best way to prepare for Christmas, and for the coming of the Lord at the end of time, is to spend our days like John, whose entire life was aimed at pointing to Christ, to the Lamb. 

May we, like John, be heralds of the Gospel every day—in our words, our activities, our moral decisions, in our prayer. May we decrease, so that Christ may increase in us, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

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As we celebrate the birth of St. John the Baptist, the great forerunner of Christ, let us turn to God in prayer, asking for the grace to follow John's example and prepare the way for the Lord in our hearts and in the world.

For the holy Church of God: That she may, like St. John the Baptist, boldly proclaim the coming of Christ and prepare the hearts of all people to receive Him.

For the leaders of nations and all in authority: That they may listen for the voice of truth, seek justice and peace, and govern with integrity for the common good.

For all who feel as though God is silent in their lives: That the example of Zechariah and the birth of John may increase their faith.

5. For the sick, the poor, and the suffering: That the light of Christ may shine through the darkness of their afflictions, and that they may be comforted by the love of God and the care of others.

For the faithful departed: That, having prepared the way for Christ in this life, they may be welcomed into the joy of His eternal Kingdom.

Heavenly Father, You sent St. John the Baptist to prepare the way for Your Son. Hear the prayers we offer on this joyful feast, and grant that we, too, may prepare Your way with faith, courage, and love. 

June 24 2020 - Nativity of St. John the Baptist - From muteness to proclamation

John has always had a place of very high esteem, his birthday was celebrated liturgically already in the 4th century. The Baptist therefore has the unique honor of being the only saint in heaven whose birthday is celebrated liturgically alongside of Our Lord and Our Lady. In fact, in the eastern church, his conception is celebrated as well, nine months prior to today, on September 24.

John was praised by the Lord himself, when he said, “I tell you, among those born of women, no one is greater than John”. 

Here at St. Ignatius, the statue of the baptist stands above the entrance to the old baptistry on the east wall of the church. He is dressed on the camel’s hair of the prophet, as he dressed during his ministry of preparing repentant souls for the advent of Christ.

In the Gospel for his feast, we hear today of his birth and circumcision and also his mysterious naming. His father Zechariah had been struck dumb for not believing the Archangel Gabriel’s announcement that he and his wife in their old age would conceive this child that would be especially consecrated to God. Zechariah’s tongue is loosened about verifying that the child’s name was John.

Today, we are to identify with this crowd of people huddled around Zechariah who were amazed and took these events to heart, contemplating just happened. The mute man, who was unbelieving, was able to speak again, in a sense, because he learned his listen, he finally allowed the good news to sink in. He verified the Gospel in his heart and with his life, and that changed him, it healed him.

So too with us, our muteness in preaching the Gospel, our fear of witnessing, can be healed, if we let it, if we seek to grow in faith. In a sense, to grow in faith is to grow in one’s willingness to witness to the working of God in one’s life.

Why is John the Baptist great? Because unlike his father, John bursts on to the scene preaching God’s word. He’s leaping for joy in his mother’s womb in response to Jesus. And that joy and conviction over the priority of faith is not hindered by fear of what others think of him. He’s willing to don camel’s hair and eat locusts in order to get people’s attention. He understands the importance of decreasing his ego, that Christ may increase in his life and in the world.

May the glorious events of the birth of John, loosen our lips, instill our hearts with joy, increase our faith and our willingness, like him, to preach the saving message of Christ, for the glory of God and salvation of souls. 

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That the Holy Spirit may guide the selection of a new bishop for Cleveland, that he may be a man of  wisdom, of deep Christian faith, hope, and love.

For the protection of the unborn, and that people of goodwill will work together to enshrine the protection of the unborn in law and in the hearts of all.

That our fears of witnessing to the Gospel may be replaced with conviction and Christian joy.
For the sick and afflicted, the homebound, those in nursing homes and hospitals, for victims of natural disaster,  those who suffer from war, violence, and terrorism, all victims of abuse, especially children, for the mentally ill, those with addictions, and the imprisoned, for the comfort of the dying and the consolation of their families.

For the deceased members of our families, friends, and parish and all the poor souls in purgatory, for deceased priests and religious, and for those who have fought and died for our freedom, for the repose of the soul of Dennis Dentzer, for whom this mass is offered.

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord.