ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST

Solemnity of his Nativity

Luke 1:80

The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the desert until the day of his manifestation to Israel.

June 24 is “Araw ng Maynila” (Manila Day). Having grew up in Manila, it was customary also for people at that time to douse passers-by with water. As a child, I didn’t really know why, so I would just do what the old people do – get a dipper-full of water and douse anyone with it. It was fun for after that “morning ritual”, everyone is wet but happy. As I grew up, I realized why this is being practiced. June 24 is when the Church also celebrate the solemnity of St. John the Baptist’s nativity. And the dousing of water is to “re-enact” how he, about two-thousand years ago, has prepared the way of the Lord by baptizing the believers in the River Jordan.

The Philippines is surrounded by water. The earth is 70% water and so our body. Water cleanses; water drowns; water refreshes. Water surrounds us in the womb; water is the main ingredient of the human body, and especially in the blood which carries the stuff our cells need for life. Water makes plant and animal life grow. Yet, without God's powerful, creative Word, water can do nothing to your spirit.

So, when you are baptized, the Spirit acts through that Word and the water to cleanse you and drown the “old you”, surround and cushion you as your faith gestates, and carry Christ's presence into you. Baptism is a promise with a sign; a covenant of grace given to us in a way that we can see, hear, feel, and grasp. It is the promise of God's forgiveness, applied personally. It is also the gift of the Spirit's presence. When you're baptized, you're putting your life down a different road, getting off of the road of surrender to evil's power, and onto the road of the faith journey of surrender to the Spirit.

Almighty Father, by whose providence your servant John the Baptist was wonderfully born, and sent to prepare the way of your Son our Savior by preaching repentance: Make us so to follow his teaching and holy life, that we may truly repent according to his preaching; and, following his example, constantly speak the truth, boldly rebuke vice, and patiently suffer for the truth's sake; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen +

“I baptize in water… but He is the one who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.”