Entry 0344: Reflections on the Solemnity of Saint John the Baptist
by Pope Benedict XVI
On two occasions during his pontificate,
Pope Benedict XVI delivered reflections
on 24 June, the solemnity of the Saint
John the Baptist, in 2006 and 2007. Here are the texts of the two brief addresses
delivered prior to the recitation of the Angelus on these occasions.
Let us invoke his
intercession, together with that of Mary Most Holy, so that also in our day the
Church will remain ever faithful to Christ and courageously witness to his truth
and his love for all.
BENEDICT
XVI
ANGELUS
St.
Peter’s Square, Sunday, 25 June 2006
This Sunday, the
12th in Ordinary Time, is as though “surrounded” by significant liturgical solemnities.
Last Friday we celebrated the Sacred Heart of Jesus, an event that felicitously
unites this popular devotion with theological depth. It was traditional - and in
some countries, still is - to consecrate families to the Sacred Heart, whose image
they would keep in their homes.
The devotion is rooted
in the mystery of the Incarnation; it is precisely through the Heart of Jesus that
the Love of God for humanity is sublimely manifested.
This is why authentic
devotion to the Sacred Heart has retained all its effectiveness and especially attracts
souls thirsting for God’s mercy who find in it the inexhaustible source from which
to draw the water of Life that can irrigate the deserts of the soul and make hope
flourish anew. The Solemnity of the Sacred Heart is also the World Day of Prayer
for the Sanctification of Priests: I take
the opportunity to invite all of you, dear brothers and sisters, to pray for priests
always, so that they will be effective witnesses of Christ’s love.
Yesterday, the liturgy
enabled us to celebrate the Birth of St John the Baptist, the only saint whose birth
is commemorated because it marked the beginning of the fulfilment of the divine
promises: John is that “prophet”, identified
with Elijah, who was destined to be the immediate precursor of the Messiah, to prepare
the people of Israel for his coming (see Mt 11: 14; 17: 10-13). His Feast reminds
us that our life is entirely and always “relative” to Christ and is fulfilled by
accepting him, the Word, the Light and the Bridegroom, whose voices, lamps and friends
we are (see Jn 1: 1, 23; 1: 7-8; 3: 29). “He must increase, but I must decrease”
(Jn 3: 30): the Baptist’s words are a programme
for every Christian.
Allowing the “I”
of Christ to replace our “I” was in an exemplary way the desire of the Apostles
Peter and Paul, whom the Church venerates with solemnity on 29 June. St Paul wrote of himself: “It is no longer I who lives, but Christ who lives
in me” (Gal 2: 20).
Before them and before
any other saint, it was Mary Most Holy who lived this reality and cherished in her
heart the words of her Son Jesus. Yesterday we contemplated her Immaculate Heart,
the heart of a mother that continues to watch tenderly over us all. May her intercession
enable us to remain ever faithful to our Christian vocation.
BENEDICT
XVI
ANGELUS
Saint
Peter’s Square, Sunday, 24 June
2007
Dear Brothers
and Sisters,
Today, 24 June, the
liturgy invites us to celebrate the Solemnity of the Birth of St John the Baptist,
whose life was totally directed to Christ, as was that of Mary, Christ’s Mother.
John the Baptist
was the forerunner, the “voice” sent to proclaim the Incarnate Word. Thus, commemorating
his birth actually means celebrating Christ, the fulfilment of the promises of all
the prophets, among whom the greatest was the Baptist, called to “prepare the way”
for the Messiah (see Mt 11: 9-10).
All the Gospels introduce
the narrative of Jesus’ public life with the account of his baptism by John in the
River Jordan. St Luke frames the Baptist’s entrance on the scene in a solemn historical
setting.
My book Jesus
of Nazareth also begins with the Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan , an event which had enormous
echoes in his day. People flocked from Jerusalem
and every part of Judea to listen to John the Baptist
and have themselves baptized in the river by him, confessing their sins (see Mk
1: 5).
The baptizing prophet
became so famous that many asked themselves whether he was the Messiah. The Evangelist,
however, specifically denied this: “I am not the Christ” (Jn 1: 20).
Nevertheless, he
was the first “witness” of Jesus, having received instructions from Heaven: “He
on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the
Holy Spirit” (Jn 1: 33).
This happened precisely
when Jesus, after receiving baptism, emerged from the water: John saw the Spirit
descending upon him in the form of a dove. It was then that he “knew” the full reality
of Jesus of Nazareth and began to make him “known to Israel ” (Jn 1: 31), pointing him out
as the Son of God and Redeemer of man: “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away
the sin of the world!” (Jn 1: 29).
As an authentic prophet,
John bore witness to the truth without compromise. He denounced transgressions of
God’s commandments, even when it was the powerful who were responsible for them.
Thus, when he accused Herod and Herodias of adultery, he paid with his life, sealing
with martyrdom his service to Christ who is Truth in person.
© Copyright 2014 - Libreria Editrice Vaticana
Book by Orestes J. González
