Born To Announce

June 24, 2007     Nativity Of John The Baptist

Isaiah 40:1-11             Psalm 141

Acts 13:14b-26         St. Luke 1:57-80

Today is known as "Little Christmas." It is the birth of the sixth-month older cousin of Jesus. There were some who believed John to be the Christ, but the Gospels make it quite clear that his destiny was to be the forerunner and baptizer of the Christ.

There is nothing known or written about any friendship they enjoyed after their womb-to-womb meeting during Mary's visitation to John's mother, Elizabeth. John is pictured as having a light to shine toward and upon Jesus, but as the Evangelist John writes in his first chapter, "He was not the light, but came to bear witness to the light." John 1:8

We hear the prophet Isaiah speak of a "voice" of God in our First Reading today. The "voice" could have been a person or the nationIsrael. From the beginning God called, fashioned and offered this "voice" an important place in extending the glory and kingship of God.

The "voice" knows that he is not to toil merely for the restoration and union of Israel, but to open the way for the light to the "nations" that are beyond the borders of God's chosen people. Salvation is going to come to all the world and this "voice" is going to toil for the coming of that salvation.

Notice in today's Second Reading, a little historical review about how God has been preparing for the light of Jesus. Here too John is saying of himself that he is not the Christ. Again, remember that this was a large controversy in the early days after the Resurrection.

The Gospel has to do with the birth of John, but even more, his naming. Elizabeth and Zechariah are advanced in age and so the lack of fertility was seen to be a kind of curse. When she is found to be pregnant and when her time for deliverance arrives he is born; all come to marvel and give God praise.

The neighbors are from the hill country of Judea. They expect his naming at the circumcision to follow custom. His father, in the previous verses, is struck speechless by God for his questioning.

His mother announces his name to be John and his father is given a tablet and writes the same. Upon this writing, his speech returns giving thanks and praise to God. After the naming, John grows up and is the man in waiting for God's time to be fulfilled.

Naming is central to this Sunday's gospel lesson. So, to borrow a line, "What's in a name?" In the Bible, naming is part of the creating process.

In Genesis 1, as God creates each element, God gives it its name:  "God called the light 'day,' and the darkness he called ?night'" 

In Genesis 2, "Adam" shares in the creating process by giving names  "to all the cattle, all the birds, and all the wild animals".

The notice, "whatever the man called each of them would be its name", suggests that the name discloses the reality of things. Thus, changed realities require changed names, and new realities require new names.

Naming establishes a relationship and makes possible communication and communion. To know a name makes it possible to address and call upon another in a personal way. The Bible rightly notes the significance of that moment when humanity "began to invoke the LORD by name" (Gen 4:26).

In two different traditions, biblical authors reveal the divine name, YHWH, at the call of Moses (Exod 3 and 6). In revealing the divine name, God also reveals the divine intent to redeem the people and to establish a covenant with them. Name and mission are linked.

God calls people to mission by giving a new name, for example, Abraham (Gen 17:5) and Jacob (Gen 32:29; 35:10), or by calling them by name, for example, Samuel (1 Sam 3) and the people, Israel (Isa 43:1).

Luke deliberately makes strong parallels between the births of John and Jesus. Being barren and being a virgin allows for a divine intervention. Gabriel appears to Zechariah announcing the "good news" of his being given a son. The annunciation to Mary of her having a son is presented by an angel and both are accompanied by prophetic words about their names and their missions.

Both Mary and Zechariah have the same questions about how this was going to be since advanced age and Mary's not being wedded, would prevent conception.

Mary is given comfort and a kind of proof by her hearing that Elizabeth is with child for six months and Mary can visit her and see for herself. Zechariah leaves his holy duties in the temple without the power to speak.

Names are given and all the people returned home. The neighbors leave here, and the shepherds in Bethlehem, praising, marveling, and wondering at what they have seen and heard.

Both Mary and Zechariah are presented as singing out in similar words a blessing of God for all that God has done for Israel and for all the nations.

In the gospel, the name given at the annunciation of the Baptist's birth is confirmed by his father at the circumcision: "John," which means "the Lord is gracious." And, indeed, John's mission is to prepare for the coming of the Messiah, the ultimate expression of God's gracious plan for humanity.

John is born to be the front-runner, the advance-publicity man for the coming on stage of Jesus. We are the co-runners who have been radiated by his Light and extend that Light to the ends of our neighborhoods, the end of our abilities, and to the end of our time.

Zechariah, Elizabeth, Joseph and Mary were all mighty little in their times, but all were born with their little to do mighty things in their time for all time. We are "servants" whom the Lord has known before we were born and in our life's time we give birth to him according to our individual personalities and history.

John was born to make known the coming of Jesus. We are born for the remembering of his life, death, and Resurrection. We are born to announce that he lives and gives new births and lifes to all the nations.

John was born as the days began to grow shorter: Christ as they grew longer, because it was fitting that man's reputation should decrease and God's glory increase. John realized this when he said: I must decrease and he must increase.

John was sent ahead like a voice before a word, a lamp before the sun, a crier before a judge, a servant before his master, the best man before the bridegroom.

We have recognized the blessed forerunner of the Lord as a lamp that went ahead of the true light and gave witness to the light so that everyone might believe through him, so let us pay attention to him and listen to his urgent message.

He indeed is the voice spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, the voice of one calling in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill made low, the crooked shall be made straight and the rough ways smooth, and all humankind shall see the salvation of God.

Let us, also, prepare a way for the Lord who is to come into our hearts; let us remove the obstacles of sin by confession and repentance, straighten the paths of our life which so far have been wayward and devious; let us pave the way of true faith with good works, get rid of worldly arrogance, and lift up our faint hearts.

When everything has been arranged, put in order, smoothed, and reunited we shall see God's salvation as he is, for his place is in peace and his abode in Zion. We remember today, the one who was born to announce this mighty work of God.