August 29^th is the day the Catholic Church remembers the martyrdom of St. John the Baptist.

An angel of the Lord told John the Baptist’s father Zacharias that the son who would be born to him and his wife Elizabeth would “go as a forerunner before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers back to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just–to make ready a people prepared for the Lord” Luke 1:17

Jesus said, “I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.”  Matthew 11:11

John the Baptist was chosen by God to prepare the way for Jesus by preaching a Baptism of Repentance.  Jesus explains that there was no prophet greater that John the Baptist.  When Jesus refers to those in the kingdom of heaven as greater, Jesus is referring to the superiority of their Baptism, a Baptism of the Holy Spirit and redemption through the sacrifice of Our Saviour Jesus Christ.

John the Baptist explained to the people that true repentance involved not only confessing our sins but also providing proof of repentance by turning away from sin and amending our lives.  He said, “Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.” Matthew 3:8  i.e., produce tangible evidence that you are truly sorry for your sins.

John went on to say, “And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’  I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.” Matthew 3:7-10 John reminded the people to not be presumptuous in thinking they would be automatically saved because of their Jewish heritage.  In a similar way, we must make sure that we do not become complacent in believing that we are automatically saved because we are Christians.  Jesus calls us to practice our faith, to confess our sins and to show Him that we are truly sorry for the times we have offended Him by changing our ways.

The people asked John “What then shall we do?  And he answered them, ‘He who has two coats, let him share with him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise.’  Tax collectors also came to be baptized, and said to him, ‘Teacher, what shall we do?’  And he said them, ‘Collect no more than is appointed you.’  Soldiers also asked him, ‘And we, what shall we do?  And he said to them, “rob no one by violence or false accusation, and be content with your wages.” Matthew 3:10-14

And we must ask ourselves what can we do to “produce fruit in keeping with repentance”?  Do we need to be more charitable?  Do we need to forgive?  Do we need to pray more?  Are we doing all we can to stand up for justice and honour in the name of Jesus Christ?

St. John the Baptist died witnessing to the truth of the Gospel.  Before the second coming of Jesus there will be many other saints who will die in a similar way testifying to the truth of Our Saviour Jesus Christ. 

“I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years.”  Revelation 20:4

St. John the Baptist we honor you and we love you for your great service to God!   Please pray for us as we prepare for the Second Coming of Jesus!  We adore You Lord Jesus!  We love You so much!  Please give us the grace to honour You today and always!