John the Baptist was the one calling out it the wilderness as Isaiah prophesied. He is the one dressed in camel hair. He is the one who baptized Jesus Christ. He was the one who was the forerunner of the Messiah. A cousin of Jesus.
But maybe what we don’t always remember is he was the one, while still in the womb of Elizabeth, leaped for joy as Mary with Jesus in her womb approached his mother. It is a scene contemplated by millions as they pray the Joyful Mysteries, for it is the second mystery, when Mary visited Elizabeth. A scene of two women. One very young and one very old. Neither expected what God ordained, that they would be with child at that moment in their life. It was impractical and dangerous and not what either would have planned.
That’s how God works with us too. His plans often derail ours. He has great plans for each of us and is just waiting for us to trust in him.
Elizabeth was the first to witness to Mary’s holiness and John, even the unborn, recognized his Lord, Jesus. Christ.
Truly John was born for his role in life and we don’t know much about his upbringing but we know that even before birth he was pointing to Jesus.
We are all, each of us, born for a role in God’s plans. Ultimately, we are also called to point to Jesus in all we do and say and how we live. If John can point to Jesus in the womb, then there is no limit to how we can use our position in life, our work, our baggage and even our weakness to point to the Lord where we live and when we live.
John also, more than any other figure in history represents the value and sacredness of those who have not been born. He proves they do have a voice and an impact and calls us to defeat this culture of death that sacrifices the innocent for convenience. John is the first to recognize Jesus Christ, live only to make a path for Jesus Christ, and die die for him even before Jesus died for us all. He always, it seems, cleared the path first, in birth and even in death.
Today, let us ask how are we leading others to Jesus. How are we pointing to him with all we have and all our being? It’s our calling too. Trust in God and pray that his will be done for our life.
Deacon Tony Pynes 
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