The Voice of one crying in the wilderness

The Church observes the birth of John as in some way sacred; and you will not find any other of the great men of old whose birth we celebrate officially. We celebrate John’s, as we celebrate Christ’s. This point cannot be passed over in silence, and if I may not perhaps be able to explain it in the way that such an important matter deserves, it is still worth thinking about it a little more deeply and fruitfully than usual.

John, it seems, has been inserted as a kind of boundary between the two Testaments, the Old and the New. That he is somehow or other a boundary is something that the Lord himself indicates when he says, The Law and the prophets were until John. So he represents the old and heralds the new. Because he represents the old, he is born of an elderly couple; because he represents the new, he is revealed as a prophet in his mother’s womb. You will remember that, before he was born, at Mary’s arrival he leapt in his mother’s womb. Already he had been marked out there, designated before he was born; it was already shown whose forerunner he would be, even before he saw him. These are divine matters, and exceed the measure of human frailty. Finally, he is born, he receives a name, and his father’s tongue is loosed.

Zachary is struck dumb and loses his voice, until John, the Lord’s forerunner, is born and releases his voice for him. What does Zachary’s silence mean, but that prophecy was obscure and, before the proclamation of Christ, somehow concealed and shut up? It is released and opened up by his arrival, it becomes clear when the one who was being prophesied is about to come.

John is the voice, but the Lord in the beginning was the Word.
John is a voice for a time, but Christ is the eternal Word from the beginning.

from a sermon by Saint Augustine

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Prayers and Intercessions

God our Father, you chose John the Baptist
to announce the kingdom of Christ to all men.
Joyfully we pray, therefore:
– Lord, guide us in the way of peace.

Even in his mother’s womb you chose John to prepare the way for your Son;
give us the faith to know Christ, and to make him known.
– Lord, guide us in the way of peace.

You inspired the Baptist to recognize the Lamb of God:
through us, let the world recognize your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.
– Lord, guide us in the way of peace.

You disposed your prophet to give way before Christ;
give us the humility to let his light shine in the world.
– Lord, guide us in the way of peace.

You called John even to die for you;
grant that we may share his burning zeal for the truth.
– Lord, guide us in the way of peace.

Remember the dead who have walked in the path of life:
bring them to new life, cleansed from all stain of sin.
– Lord, guide us in the way of peace.

Our Father …

Almighty God and Father,
you sent Saint John the Baptist to the people of Israel
to make them ready for Christ the Lord.
Give us the grace of joy in the Spirit,
and guide the hearts of all the faithful
in 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,
one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.