24 June 2026 - homily for the Solemnity of the Nativity of John the Baptist — Wednesday - Luke 1:57-66 and 80

John the Baptist died before Jesus’ death and resurrection. Even so, before his own death, John was able to be a strong Gospel witness for Jesus, knowing that Jesus was the Messiah, the one for whom he paved the way and announced his coming. Even while in prison, John was occupied with the idea of Jesus being the promised one, sending his disciples to ask Jesus that very question. In the Gospel of St John the Evangelist, Jesus asserts that John the Baptist is the greatest in the line of prophets in the Jewish faith, a very strong claim.  

Today’s solemnity celebrates the birth of John the Baptist to his parents Zechariah and Elizabeth. The date of his birth falls around the day in our calendar of the summer solstice, the time of the greatest amount of daylight in the northern hemisphere, which took place on Sunday, June 21 this year, just a few days ago. The summer solstice was a time of great festivals for many pagan religions, including the Romans. With creation on earth being dependent on light for all dimensions of life, the pagans wanted to appease the gods whom they saw as controlling the sun. The birth of Jesus on December 25 comes around the time of the winter solstice, when daylight starts increasing in the northern hemisphere of the world. Through our celebrations of the births of Jesus and John the Baptist, we celebrate Jesus as the light of the world. In his life and ministry, John the Baptist testified to the light, even when he was in the womb of his mother Elizabeth, leaping for joy when he and his mother were in the presence of Mary, with Jesus in Mary’s womb. From the moment he was conceived, John was brave in his testimony, confronting many of the social and political attitudes of his time. From the beginning of John’s existence, he was called by God to a specific prophetic task. From the moment of our own baptism, we to are called to give testimony to the faith and to be a part of God’s plan. We can help to build up God’s kingdom here on earth and to be a part of Christ’s mission and ministry. We unite our prayers with the prayers of John the Baptist today as we celebrate his birth.