Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist: A Light Before the Light
- Altynai Maria Abaskan
- Jun 24
- 2 min read
He will be great before the Lord… and he will go before Him to prepare His ways.” — Luke 1:15,17
The Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist, celebrated each year on June 24—and in 2025, falling on a Tuesday—is one of the Church’s few feast days that commemorates a birth rather than a death. This joyful celebration marks the coming of the forerunner of the Lord, the one who prepared the way for Christ with both his life and his word.
Saint John the Baptist was set apart from his mother’s womb. An angel announced his conception; his father Zechariah, struck mute in disbelief, later burst into prophetic song at John’s birth. In a world aching for redemption, John came as a voice crying out in the wilderness, pointing to the One who is the Light of the world.
A Prophet Unlike Any Other
Jesus Himself would say, “Among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist” (Matthew 11:11). Why? Because John stood at the threshold between the Old and New Testaments. He was the last prophet and the first witness. His entire mission was to prepare hearts for the coming of Christ.
John’s message was clear and urgent: “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!” But more than his words, his austere life, his humility, and his courageous martyrdom testify to his greatness. He lived in the desert, wore camel’s hair, ate locusts and wild honey, and fearlessly challenged the powerful—calling even King Herod to conversion.
Why Celebrate His Birth?
Just as we celebrate the birth of Jesus at Christmas and Mary on September 8, the Church honors John’s nativity because of his unique role in salvation history. His birth itself was a sign: his mother Elizabeth conceived him in her old age, and he leapt in the womb when Mary visited—becoming the first to recognize Christ even before birth.
The date of his birth—six months before Christmas—is also symbolic. Saint Augustine noted that as the days begin to shorten after June 24, and lengthen after December 25, John’s own words are fulfilled: “He must increase, and I must decrease” (John 3:30).
Living the Mission of John
To celebrate the Nativity of John the Baptist is to renew our own mission to prepare the way for the Lord. In our time, we are called to be bold in truth, humble in spirit, and fearless in love. Like John, we point not to ourselves, but to Christ.
The world needs modern-day Johns—voices in the wilderness of confusion, doubt, and despair, who still proclaim, “Behold, the Lamb of God!”
Reflection
“Saint John the Baptist, fearless herald of Christ, teach me to prepare His way in the world around me. May I have your courage, your humility, and your joy in pointing always to Jesus.”
*All articles in our blog are written with the help of ChatGPT AI and reviewed by human editors.
