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Institute for Homiletics

A Collaboration of The Catholic Foundation and the University of Dallas

Nativity of Saint John the Baptist

A Day for Singing

Luke’s infancy narrative would make a wonderful opera. One song leads to  another, beginning with Elizabeth’s joyful greeting to Mary, then Mary’s Magnificat,  followed by Zechariah’s song at John’s birth, climaxing with the angels’ hymn at  Christ’s birth, and gently closing with old Simeon’s canticle in the temple. 

Today we focus on the event that motivated Zechariah’s great song of praise:  the birth of John the Baptist. To appreciate this story we must remember the  events leading up to what we hear in the Gospel. The archangel Gabriel had  appeared to the priest Zechariah as he was offering incense in the temple, telling  him that he and his long-barren wife, Elizabeth, would finally have their prayers  answered with a son who would do great things for God. Quite taken aback,  Zechariah asked how he could know this to be true. Wrong question! For doubting, he was made mute. 

Just as Elizabeth gave birth to a son, Zechariah gave birth to a song, one of  the most beautiful in scripture, recognizing “the Lord, the God of Israel who has  visited and brought redemption to his people,” and hailing his infant child as  one who would be called “the prophet of the Most High, going before the Lord  to prepare his way” (see Luke 1:68–79). John, of course, would go into the desert  to sing his own song: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.” And,  in the fullness of time, Jesus, God’s love song to the world, came, and the singing  still goes on. 

Consider/Discuss

  • What song has God given you to sing? (And don’t say, “I can’t sing!”)
  • What song does our parish sing to God? Our country? Our world? 

Responding to the Word

God of all creation, from the beginning creation sang as you brought the world  from chaos into light. Throughout the story of Israel, men and women raised their  voices praising your holy name. In Jesus you sang your song of love to us. May our  voices join with all the angels and saints in joyful praise.

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Scripture Study for

The servant of the Lord is commissioned to gather the dispersed people of  Israel. However, as important as this might be, it is really too narrow a responsibility. Therefore, the mission of the servant will be expanded to include all of the  nations. A mission that originally focused on the rebirth of one nation is broken  open to include the salvation of all. It is noteworthy that a people struggling with  its own survival after its defeat at the hands of a more powerful nation should envision its God as concerned with the salvation of all, presumably even the nation at  whose hands it suffered. Yet this is precisely what “light to the nations” suggests. 

Paul provides a brief summary of some of the stages in the unfolding of God’s  plan of salvation. It began with David, who, though originally overlooked, eventually established the royal dynasty from which came the Messiah. God continued to ready the world for the advent of this messiah through the preaching of  John the Baptist. Paul’s purpose in reminding his hearers of the roles played by  David and John was to place his own preaching squarely within this tradition.  Here Paul is speaking to people who would have appreciated his references to  David and who might even have had some acquaintance with John the Baptist. 

In Israelite society, circumcision was the boy’s initiation into the community  of the people of God. Here circumcision and naming have been combined. It is  clear that this was truly a chosen child, for his father Zechariah was given back  his speech when he confirmed that the child was to be named John. John had  indeed been set apart by God for a mission to the people of Israel. In preparation for this, he spent his days in the wilderness, the place that was traditionally  considered a testing ground. It was there that he was strengthened in spirit for  the task before him. 

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