The Nativity of St. John the Baptist

John was the forerunner, but not the only forerunner. He was the last and greatest. For  there were many: Adam, created in the image of God; Abel, first to shed the blood of brutality; Noah, builder of the ark; David, victor without armor over the giant; Solomon, who by wisdom built a great kingdom; Elijah, that great prophet who called for repentance; and many others. And John's father, silent until John's birth, like the word of God, silent for 400 years until Jesus' birth; John's father, who wrote on a tablet when John was born, also like God, whose Evangelists finally wrote his words again at Jesus' birth; John's father, who spoke and praised God, like the very angels who rejoiced at Jesus' birth. And John himself, who leapt in his mother's womb, like Jesus who leapt from death to life and then from earth to heaven at his ascension; John, who was in  the desert places until his appearing, like Jesus who likewise was led into the wilderness; John, who preached, saying, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand, the very same words as Jesus' preaching; John, who at last pointed, whose finger fulfilled all the pointing and looking forward of all the Scriptures, pointing to Christ the Lamb of God who takes away  the sin of the world. So let us rejoice with Zacharias, and with John, and with the angels, and with all the company of heaven. Sermon for the Nativity of John the Baptist. Video is here.