Shikrot Mpwi - Sunday Synopsis with Fr. Justine J. Dyikuk

Homily for the Birthday of St. John the Baptist: Year B - June 24, 2018.

Readings: Isaiah 49:1-6; Responsorial Psalm Ps 139:1-3.13-14.15(R.14a); 

Acts 13:22-26; Luke 1:57-66.80.

Theme: Greatness through Service

Preamble

Friends in Christ, today the Church celebrates the birthday of St. John the Baptist. I would like to begin with this story. A farmer who grew Award-Winning Maize in an Agricultural Show each year surprisingly shares his seed with his neighbours. Amazed by this magnanimous gesture, a reporter asked, why he could afford to share his best seeds with his neighbours when they are also entering the maize competition. The farmer smiled and replied:  “The wind picks up pollen from the ripening maize and swirls it from field to field. If my neighbours grow inferior maize, Cross-Pollination will steadily degrade the quality of my maize. If I am to grow good maize, I must help my neighbours grow a good crop.”

This anecdote speaks to the heart of service. It reveals that those who want to live meaningful lives must learn to enrich the lives of others through service. Sages and life couches of all time have insisted that the value of life is measured by how long we live but by the lives we touch. From the perspective of African traditional values, the sense of communalism demonstrates that those who choose to be happy must also help others to be happy because the welfare of each person is bound up in the welfare of society. This sets the tone for a reflection on the birthday of St. John the Baptist titled: “Greatness through Service.” 

Summary of the Readings

The first reading from the prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 49:1-6) is a message of hope for the people of Israel. The Lord assures that He would not only restore the tribes of Jacob or bring back the survivors of Israel but that from among them He will raise someone who would be the light of the nations so that His salvation may reach to the ends of the earth. The text presents a message of hope with assurances of salvation through the expected messiah that St. John would direct people to in the New Testament.

In the second reading from the Acts of the Apostles, (Acts 13:22-26), we are presented with the humility of John who said: “I am not the one you imagine me to be; that one is coming after me and I am not fit to undo his scandal.” The reading traces the Davidic dynasty of the Messiah in fulfilment of His promises of old. It particularly notes that Jesus’ coming as Saviour, “was heralded by John when he proclaimed a baptism of repentance for the whole people of Israel.”

The Gospel reading (Luke 1:57-66.80) recounts the infancy narrative of St. John the Baptist. It narratives the dramatic events surrounding his birth and naming ceremony stressing how the nieghbours were elated and talked about the affair. We are told that while everyone wondered about what the child would turn out to be, “indeed, the hand of the Lord was with him.” The gospel also mentions that “meanwhile, the child grew up and his spirit matured” and he lived out in the wilderness until when he appeared openly to Israel. 

Joyful and Sorrowful Mysteries in the Life of John the Baptist

The gospels reveal John as the forerunner of Christ. According to the Church’s tradition, John the Baptist is the only saint in the calendar who has two feasts to himself except the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Joseph, the foster father of Jesus. The first celebration which celebrates his birth is in June, being today, and the other which commemorates his death is in August. Little wonder Jesus said that of all men born of women, there is none greater than John the Baptist.

The joyful mysteries of his life include - his mother conceived him in old age; as a child, he leaped for joy in his mother’s womb at the voice of his Aunty, the Blessed Virgin Mary; he matured in spirit; he proclaimed the gospel of repentance and forgiveness of sins; he fulfilled the prophesies of old concerning the messiah; he baptized Jesus at the Jordan and with his disciples, they worked miracles to the glory of God.

We might be tempted to think of John only in the sense of greatness. Well, it is also crucial to think of him in terms of one who had the most tragic experiences which can be regarded as the sorrowful mysteries of his life. Although he was the Cousin of Jesus, he faced opposition in spreading the message of the kingdom leading to his incarceration; he even sent his disciples to inquire if Jesus was the Christ; he spoke truth to power by challenging Herod for taking Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip. What is more, he was murdered in cold blood for the sake of the truth. The question is, why did Jesus not save him from his murderer? Well, to teach us that God has not favourites as well as the virtue of heroic witnessing. 

Some Pastoral Punch-lines

1. Today’s celebration teaches us that friends of God also suffer want and go hungry and that the greatest of all, must be servant of all. 

2. Apparently, the disciples of John or even the devil wanted him to fight back or found a parallel sect to that of Jesus but he did not - This teaches us to accept our mission in life and also to look up to God for its fulfillment. 

3. We are challenged to embrace John’s humility which we read about in our second reading (Acts 13:22-26) by serving others in humility bearing in mind that humility is that inner disposition to put others first before ourselves. 

4. Instead of seizing his place in history as one who usurped the position of his Master, John lives a legacy for us as one knew and accepted his position in life and got the crown of eternal glory.

5. Our temporal and spiritual leaders have something to learn from the life of John namely that true greatness can only be achieved through servant-leadership epitomized by Christ who by his life and teaching undertook self-abnegation even to the point of death for our sake – here, we recall the dramatic washing of his disciple’s feet on Holy Thursday (John 13:1-17) which has remained a metaphor for service in the Church.

6. Through John the Baptist, Christ became the light of the nations as the first reading relates (Isaiah 49:1-6) - As such, Christians must ensure that they bring others to the light of Christ by the lives they live. 

7. Like John, Christians are charged to also shun the tendency to be envious of the great talents of others while using theirs for the good of society – this is because there are times that we are tempted to feel bad because God elevated others ahead of us.                                                                     

8. We ought to appreciate the great gifts in others as we seek to use our time, talent and resources for the good of our nation and world.

Homiletic Points to Remember                      

1. From the perspective of African traditional values, the sense of communalism demonstrates that those who choose to be happy must also help others to be happy.

2. The welfare of each person is bound up in the welfare of society.

3. We might be tempted to think of John only in the sense of greatness.

4. It is also crucial to think of him (John) in terms of one who had the most tragic experiences.

5. We must never forget that true greatness can only be achieved through humility and service.

Conclusion

On the birthday of St. John the Baptist, we are challenged to ignite the power of collectivity, the principle of little beginnings and the law of service to others. The saying goes: “None of us truly wins, until we all win.” It is only when we help the people around us to be good that we can be said to have a good society. We must never forget that true greatness can only be achieved through humility and service. May St. John the Baptist intercede for us. Have a blessed week.