The Nativity of St. John the Baptist (2026)
Most of us think of Saint John the Baptist as an Advent figure, not a saint for the beginning of summer. But the Church considers his birth so important that it is one of only three birthdays celebrated during the course of the liturgical year, together with the births of Jesus and Mary.
As someone who loves the history of the Church's liturgy, I find these details fascinating. But there is more to this feast than history or devotion. The importance of this celebration lies in the figure of John himself and in his role as the prophet who bridges the promises of the Old Testament and their fulfillment in Jesus Christ.
The life and message of John the Baptist remind us that God keeps his promises.
John's birth was a sign of this. The child promised to Zechariah and Elizabeth arrived when the time had come. Throughout his life, John pointed beyond himself to the One whom God had promised from the beginning, proclaiming, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world."
And it is in that proclamation that we find John’s greatness.…
He never pointed to himself.
He pointed to Christ.
In a world marked by noise, violence, and political unrest, John's voice broke through the confusion and helped people recognize that Emmanuel—God-with-us—was already present among them.
That is why John still matters.
John spent his entire life pointing beyond himself to the God who is faithful. And his witness reminds us that we can trust the Lord's promises, even when we cannot yet see how they will be fulfilled.
John also reminds us that we are called to be prophets.
Not prophets who draw attention to themselves.
Not prophets who announce themselves.
But people who help others recognize the presence of Christ already in their midst.
The invitation of this feast is to become people whose words and lives point beyond ourselves. We are called to help others recognize God's presence in their families, in their communities, and in the ordinary moments of daily life.
Before anything else, we are invited to remember that the God whom John proclaimed is the God who first knew him, called him, and consecrated him for his mission.
The same is true for us.
Long before we searched for God, God was searching for us.
Long before we learned to speak God’s name, God called us by ours.
And so, with the psalmist, we can pray in confidence: "O Lord, you have searched me and you know me."
The God who knew John in the womb, who fulfilled his promises in Christ, and who called him to prepare the way, is the same God who knows each of us, walks beside us, and calls us by name.
O God, who raised up Saint John the Baptist
to make ready a nation fit for Christ the Lord,
give your people, we pray,
the grace of spiritual joys
and direct the hearts of all the faithful
into the way of salvation and peace.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever. Amen.
-Collect for the Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist (Mass of the Day)
