RBWords

     The "child" in question is John the Baptist.  And when a feast day takes over a Sunday, the clear signal is that it is an important occasion.  Of course, once the early Christian community decided to celebrate Jesus' birthday on December 25, then setting the date of John the Baptist's birthday was easy - six months earlier, as per the angel Gabriel's announcement to Mary.[Luke 1:36].  Furthermore, the community saw a foreshadowing of John's prophetic role in the words of Isaiah which provide the first scripture for today.

     John the Baptist had his own followers, including Jesus before John was arrested by Herod.  The gospels, however, make it clear that John was to be considered to be a herald for Jesus.  The Gospel According to Luke presents the "Canticle of Zechariah" (which appears between verses 66 and 80) in which John's father proclaims: "And you, child, will be called prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give his people knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins." [Luke 1:76]  Since Luke is also the author of the Acts of the Apostles from which the second reading for today is taken, St. Paul is presented as pointing out how John made sure to clarify his role!

     With all that taken into account, John the Baptist still remains an important figure in the story of Jesus because his role is basically our own: to proclaim the good news of Jesus.  Prophets lived a risky life because folks in power don't like to be told they are doing wrong things or that someone more powerful than they is in existence.  We don't have to look too far for examples.  Any Christian who takes his or her faith seriously will, by that very fact, be prophetic in a culture that is secular.  The celebration of the Nativity of John the Baptist, can serve as a reminder to us of this important fact.  AMEN