Episode Transcript  

One

St. John the Baptist prepares the way for the Lord.

Today we celebrate the birthday of St. John the Baptist. John said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the desert, prepare the way of the Lord.” The first thing we see in St. John the Baptist is that he lives in the wilderness, eats wild locusts and wears camel hair, have you ever worn camel hair straight on the skin? That is worse than…I don’t know…burlap. Why does John do this?

Why does preparation for Christ require discipline of the body mind and soul? Well, let me ask, why was Jesus not born in the Inn? It was full. Why was he born in the stable? It was empty.  If we want to be happy, then we need to empty ourselves of the things that crowd Jesus out: Fast from overworking, being overscheduled and too busy, fast from unnecessary screen time, fast from your addiction to news and social media, entertainment and scrolling…and replace those things with the good things your body mind and soul really need: a deeper friendship with God, and the things nourish your body mind and soul with truth, beauty and goodness. Remember, we did a whole series of meditations on how to use you free time well, don’t forget those things.

Fast from eating and drinking to cope with anxiety and pain. Fast from looking at impure images. Fast from gossip. Jesus wants to set you free from your addictions so that He can fill you with Himself the source of perfect and unending happiness.

Two

John Built Friendship

Yes, John preached and baptized. But he also did something very personal: he gathered a small group of disciples, spent time with them, formed them, and built real friendship with them. Tradition tells us Andrew was one of them, and the unnamed disciple with Andrew is commonly understood to be John the Apostle. Through Andrew, Peter was brought to Jesus. Philip and Nathanael soon followed within that same relational network.

So John’s mission was not only public preaching. He formed a small group of friends and helped them come to Jesus. That is our mission too. We are called to live deep friendship with Jesus in prayer, and then help our loved ones come to Him through authentic friendship. So I need to ask myself: Am I really building friendship with the people God has placed in my life, my spouse, children, adult children, their spouses, grandchildren, parents, friends?

Do we spend regular time together doing good things besides watching screens? Do I ask good questions and really listen? Am I looking for the right moment to invite them to Jesus, especially in prayer? And am I removing the things in me that make me hard to be around, gossip, complaining, self-centeredness, heaviness, and a lack of joy?

Three

John’s Detachment from Success

At a certain point John’s disciples come to him concerned that more people are following Jesus than him. There’s a certain point when the work he is doing comes to an end. And John the Baptist says that he is content, that he rejoices, at Jesus taking over. He says, “He must increase, and I must decrease.”

John knows what the purpose of life is, holiness, transforming union with Jesus, that the life of Jesus to increase within him, He must increase and I must decrease. That is the purpose of our life, the life of Jesus must increase within us. That purpose never changes. But the way we achieve that purpose does change.

We carry out that purpose as kids in families and school and sports. Then we begin careers and families. Then we become empty nestors, careers come to a close. Then we have a long span of time where we can deepen our prayer and really work on growing virtue, helping our family and friends to God, accepting suffering of all kinds so that our soul is purified and strengthened to receive more of God. And we should always be working, doing good for the world and others.

My point is this, our purpose is always the same, holiness, transforming union with God. Only the means change. Don’t lose sight of the purpose of life.

Four

John’s Acceptance of Suffering

Today we celebrate John’s birthday. At the end of the summer we will celebrate his martyrdom. John the Baptist helps us see that Jesus did not come to take away suffering, but to transform it and give it meaning. Suffering has meaning because it is good for us and good for others. How can this be?

Suffering can be good for us because it can empty us of our pride, our self-reliance and our disordered loves, making room in our soul to be filled by God. This is why St. Maryam of Bethlehem said we can “always be content” because God uses all things, even suffering to bring us what we really want and need, Jesus.

Our Suffering can help others. Jesus is inviting us to help him save souls by our suffering. All we need to do is accept what you did not choose, do not like, and cannot change and offer it to Jesus. Don’t waste your suffering. Souls depend on you.  Whatever you face, St. Paul says, “Rejoice always, give thanks.” In all circumstances; for this is the will of God for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:16

Thank God right now for the cross in your life because it is the most effective means to empty you and fill you with Jesus, the purpose of life.

Five

John as an Arrow to Christ

John was an arrow. He pointed to Christ, and He said, “Behold! There is the Lamb of God who takes away the Sins of the World.”

This is the most important way we’re called to imitate John the Baptist. We are called to let our whole life be an arrow to Christ. When people look at us, we want the next thing they think about to be Jesus. So often, because of our sins and selfishness, because of our intemperance, because of our vanity and ambition, we try to point to ourselves. In those cases, our life becomes a distraction from Christ, not an arrow to Him.

This is especially important for our children and grandchildren. We are not responsible for making our children Holy. We are responsible for giving them Holy parents and grandparents. If you do this every day and make it a habit, your life will be transformed and you will become an arrow, not an obstacle, to the Christ.

If you enjoyed this meditation, subscribe below.