24 June 2021
Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist
For well over 1,500 years, the birthday of St. John the Baptist has been celebrated today. This birthday is miraculous not only because John’s mother, Elizabeth, was past the age for childbearing, but also because his mute father, Zechariah, recovered the ability to speak after John’s birth. When Zechariah affirmed that “John” would be his son’s name, over the objections of family and friends, Zechariah’s tongue was freed so that he could speak again.
It was not Zechariah’s idea to name him “John.” The angel Gabriel chose the name. Our English name “John” comes from the Latin name “Ioannes” which comes from the Greek name Ἰωάννης (Ioannes) which comes from the Hebrew name יוֹחָנָן (Yochanan), which means “Yah is gracious,” that is, “God is gracious.”
Whenever someone calls John’s name, they are saying that God is gracious! Every John is a walking and talking reminder of God’s grace. Let us do what we can today, not only to celebrate the birthday of our great Saint John the Baptist, but also to join him by proclaiming with a free tongue: God is gracious!