Nativity of Saint John the Baptist
Today we celebrate the birth of Saint John the Baptist, the man who prepared the way for Our Lord. His preaching to the Israelites was prophesied in Isaiah: A voice crying out in the desert, ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.’ (Is 40:3). Saint John the Baptist preached of the coming of the Messiah. John would baptize people at the River Jordon, with water. This baptism was a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. Yet, John always proclaimed a caveat that someone greater than himself would come after him. He prepared the Israelites for Jesus’ arrival and ministry. Jesus’ form of Baptism would not only take away our Original Sin, but all additional sins committed to date. John merely prepared the way for the Lord. Saint John the Baptist Saint John the Baptist is the son of Zechariah and Elizabeth, and Elizabeth is Mary’s cousin. When Mary, pregnant with Jesus, visited Zechariah and Elizabeth, Elizabeth, herself, was six months pregnant. The c