The feast of John the Baptist

Today we celebrate the feast of John the Baptist. The church regards him as such an important person that he is the only saint to have two feasts; his birth today and his death on the 29th of August. Luke tells us that he was the cousin of Jesus and that he leapt in his mother's womb when Mary visited Elizabeth carrying Jesus. Next we see John calling people to repentance and as a sign, baptizing them in the Jordan. Jesus came to John and at his baptism the Spirit descended upon him and he heard the Father's voice saying, ''You are my beloved Son.'' This was the sign for Jesus to begin his own mission. In rural parts of Brazil today's feast is celebrated with great enthusiasm as each family lights a log bonfire outside their home. There is a legend that the birth of John was announced by lighting fires on hills throuhout the country but the feast occurs near the winter solstice in the southern hemisphere. So it is more likely that the bonfires signify banishing the darkness on the longest night of the year, as Jesus brings light into our darkness. From now on the days will become longer so the feast on this date reminds us of Johns words, ''He must increase and I must decrease.'' (John 3:30). John is seen as the forerunner, the advance messenger, of Jesus. At the naming of John, his father Zechariah announced, ''And you, child shall be called the prophet of the Most High; for you shall go before the Lord to prepare his ways.'' (Luke 1:76). Jesus, the Lord, has already come and through our baptism, we are called to prepare our hearts so that Jesus will increase in us and that our witness will draw others to him.