The Birth of John the Baptist

An Advent Reflection by Terryn Boucher St. Pius Parishioner The Birth of John the Baptist The season of Advent is a time of preparation for the coming of Jesus’ birth at Christmas. And so it is appropriate that the readings during Advent pay a lot of attention to John the Baptist, whose mission was to be the herald for Jesus, to prepare the world for his coming. All of the gospels describe John’s heralding activities as an adult, but Luke’s gospel also gives significant details about John’s birth. Luke shows many parallels between the births of John and Jesus. He highlights that the importance of John’s mission was revealed even from the time of John’s conception. Jesus himself will tell the crowds in Chapter 7 of Luke that John is more than a prophet. Jesus says that John the Baptist is the messenger of the Lord, foretold about in the book of Malachi, Chapter 3. Jesus will even say that, “among those born of women, no one is greater than John.” (Lk 7:28) Luke begins his gospel telling us about Zechariah and Elizabeth, a couple who was “righteous in the eyes of God.” (Lk 1:6) “But they had no child because Elizabeth was barren and both were advanced in years.” (Lk 1:7) While in the temple sanctuary to burn incense, the angel Gabriel appears to Zechariah and tells him that, “Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall name him John.” (Lk 1:13) “He will be filled with the Holy Spirit from his mother’s womb,” (Lk 1:15) and, “He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah.”(Lk 1:17) The reference to Elijah is important because in Malachi 3:23 God tells us that he will send Elijah the prophet before the day of the Lord comes. Jesus reiterates this reference by linking John to the promise of Elijah in Luke 7, as mentioned above. Zechariah doubts Gabriel, and so is stricken speechless “until the day these things take place.” (Lk 1:20) Elizabeth does conceive, and the first part of Gabriel’s message is fulfilled. Luke now switches to Mary, and tells us about the announcement to Mary of Jesus’ birth by Gabriel. As with John, the angel names Jesus before his conception. Luke tells us that Mary and Elizabeth are relatives. So Mary, having learned of Elizabeth’s pregnancy from Gabriel, goes to visit Elizabeth. When Mary greets Elizabeth, John leaps for joy in her womb, and he is filled with the Holy Spirit. (Lk 1:44) Here we see the second part of Gabriel’s message to Zechariah fulfilled. Mary stays with Elizabeth for about three months, probably until the birth of John. At John’s circumcision, eight days after he is born, Elizabeth says he is to be named John. Her relatives question this because no one else in the family has that name. Zechariah writes down on a tablet that “John is his name.” (Lk 1: 63) Immediately Zechariah’s speech is restored, and all are amazed. The third part of Gabriel’s message to Zechariah is fulfilled! Luke will go on to tell of the birth and naming of Jesus in Chapter 2. And so we see the importance of John in that both John and Jesus are 1) announced by the angel Gabriel, 2) named before conception, 3) born under extraordinary circumstances (John to a barren woman, Jesus to a virgin), and 4) named as directed at their circumcision. Advent/Christmas Lessons Based on the Infancy Narratives of Matthew and Luke Bible references are from the New American Bible, St. Joseph Edition, copyright 1970, 1986 by the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C., Published by the Catholic book Publishing Company, New York, NY .

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