Saint John the Baptist Father Joseph Ford homily

Father Joseph Ford attended the schools of Gardiner, Maine and received degrees from St. Anselm College and the Gregorian University. He has served in several parishes throughout Maine and for twenty-five years has had many diocesan responsibilities. He is in the fifth year of his service at Saint John's School in Brunswick, ME ~ Psalm 139 1B: "I praise you for your are wonderfully made."

Homily to the All Saints Parish in Brunswick on June 24 & 25, 2017, in recognition of the Saint John the Baptist feast day:

Birth of John the Baptist* - A some may know, it has been my joy to be involved at our Saint John's School visiting with the classes and sharing the story of our faith. A the beginning of the school year, I try to tell the story of our school to the new students.  I speak of the French Canadian immigrants who crossed the border, some did so illegally, to work in the mills powered by the river.  I tell the young people of the brutal working conditions and the poorly constructed tenements in which families might have but one room. However, these poor people had dreams for their children and sacrificed from they very substance to create a school so that their children could make their way in the United States and above all know and practice their Catholic faith. They gave the school the name of John the Baptist, the patron of the Province of Quebec.  I go on to tell the story of his conception and birth, explaining that the tablet used by Zechariah was different from "tablets" today. The kids are intrigued by John's food and drink, but I hope they understand, like John, all of us are to make the way for Jesus.

Saint John's Catholic School in Brunwick Maine in All Saints Parish

We are given this feast for the same reason.  As we recall John the Baptist, we can better understand the call God is making to each of us.  As we learned in our second reading, John completed the long history of prophets to our Jewish ancestors. People like Elijah, Isaiah, and Jeremiah had called their people to unity with God.  When the people failed, the prophets sought to persuade them to turn from evil and do good.  The prophets warned them time and time again not to worship the gods of their neighbors and to remain faithful to the one God.  The prophets told the people that their troubles usually came about because they failed to keep commandments. Finally, John the Baptist came on the scene proclaiming that God was to enter into human history. He encouraged the people to give up their sins and turn to God. In doing so, he completed the amazing story of his conception and birth.  The had of the Lord was with him. He because strong in the Spirit and was a pivotal person in the revelation of God's love.  In his call and ministry, we can understand and appreciate the call that is our, as individuals and as community.

Our first reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah was intended to be applied to John the Baptist, but we need to see ourselves in those words. We are meant to hear of the amazing grace given us. From the very moment of our conception, God desired us to be images and likenesses of God. Every person is meant to share in divine life.  As John was chosen, we were formed in our mothers' wombs and are called to be servants through whom God's glory is sown. While, like our Hebrew ancestors, we may wander, we know that life and reward are in God. We are cherished by God; in turn, we are called to be light to the nations.

This is an awesome call. We may think we are too young or too old. However, God abides with us. Today's responsorial psalm is one of my favorites, because it states so beautifully our nearness to God. I am going to repeat a couple of stanzas, but I urge you today or tomorrow to ponder the entire psalm:

"Lord, you have probed me, you know me, you know when I sit and when I stand; you understand my thoughts from afar. My journeys and my rest, you scrutinize, with all my ways you are familiar. Even before a word is on my tongue, Lord, you know it all. Behind and before you encircle me and rest your had upon me. And as we sang: "Truly you have formed my inmost being; you knit me in my mother's womb. I give you thanks that I am fearfully, wonderfully made; wonderful are your works."

God is one with us. Consequently, like John the Baptist, we can dare to live and speak for God today and every day.

We can make the way of the Lord.  

Saint John the BaptistHis austere camel’s hair garment was the traditional garb of the prophets, and his diet of locusts and wild honey represented either strict adherence to Jewish purity laws or the asceticconduct of a Nazirite (a Jew especially vowed to God’s service). His mission was addressed to all ranks and stations of Jewish society.

*Gospel reading for the Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist:  Luke: 1-57 

When the time arrived for Elizabeth to have her child she gave birth to a son.

Her neighbors and relatives heard
that the Lord had shown his great mercy toward her,
and they rejoiced with her.

When they came on the eighth day to circumcise the child,
they were going to call him Zechariah after his father,
but his mother said in reply,

"No. He will be called John."
But they answered her,
"There is no one among your relatives who has this name."
So they made signs, asking his father what he wished him to be called.

He asked for a tablet and wrote, "John is his name,"
and all were amazed.

Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed,
and he spoke blessing God.

Then fear came upon all their neighbors,
and all these matters were discussed
throughout the hill country of Judea.

All who heard these things took them to heart, saying,
"What, then, will this child be?"

For surely the hand of the Lord was with him.
The child grew and became strong in spirit,
and he was in the desert until the day
of his manifestation to Israel.