A reading from the Holy Gospel according to the Apostle and Evangelist Saint Luke (Lk 1:1-25).
For many have set forth a record of the happenings which have taken place among us, as have those who have witnessed them from the beginning and became ministers of the word, So I, too, have decided to do accurate research on every circumstance from the beginning and to write for you an orderly account, illustrious Teòfilo, so that you may be aware of the soundness of the teachings you have received.
At the time of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the class of Abijah, and he had in his wife a descendant of Aaron called Elizabeth. 6 They were righteous before God; they kept all the laws and prescriptions of the LORD beyond reproach. But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren and both were ahead in years.
While Zechariah was officiating before the Lord in the turn of his class, according to the custom of priestly service, he had the lot of entering the temple to make the offering of incense. The whole assembly of the people prayed outside in the hour of incense. Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense. When he saw him, Zechariah was troubled and fearful. But the angel said to him, Fear not, Zechariah, your prayer has been answered, and your wife Elizabeth will give you a son, whom you will call John. You shall have joy and joy, and many shall rejoice at his birth, for he shall be great before the Lord; he shall drink neither wine nor intoxicating drink; he shall be full of the Holy Spirit from the womb of his mother and bring many the children of Israel back to the Lord their God. He will walk before him with the spirit and the strength of Elijah, to lead the hearts of the fathers towards the sons and the rebels to the wisdom of the righteous and to prepare to the Lord a well-disposed people». Zechariah said to the angel: «How can I know this? I am old and my wife is advanced in the years». The angel answered him: I am Gabriel standing before God and I have been sent to bring you this good news. And behold, you will be mute and you will not be able to speak until the day when these things will happen, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time».
Meanwhile the people were waiting for Zechariah, and marveled at his lingering in the temple. When he came out and couldn’t speak to them, they understood that he had a vision in the temple. He nodded and remained silent.
When he had finished his service, he returned home. After those days, Elizabeth, his wife, conceived and kept herself hidden for five months and said: «Here is what the Lord has done for me, in the days when he deigned to remove my shame among men».
For Elizabeth, meanwhile, the time of childbirth was fulfilled and she gave birth to a son. The neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had exalted in her his mercy, and rejoiced with her.
On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child and wanted to call him by the name of his father, Zechariah. But her mother intervened: «No, her name will be John». They said to her: «There is none of your kinship that is called by this name». Then they asked his father what he wanted his name to be. He asked for a tablet and wrote: «John is his name». Everyone was amazed. At that same moment his mouth was opened, and his tongue melted, and he spoke blessing God. All their neighbours were fearful, and all these things were discussed throughout the mountainous region of Judea. Those who heard them kept them in their hearts: «What will this child be?» they said to themselves. Indeed, the hand of the Lord was with him.
Zechariah, his father, was filled with the Holy Spirit, and he prophesied saying:
Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, because he visited and redeemed his people, And you, child, will be called prophet of the Most High because you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways"
The child grew and was strengthened in spirit. He lived in deserted regions until the day of his manifestation to Israel.
Reflection
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
On this second Sunday of Pentecost, on the solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist, "The Precursor" (Ὁ Πρόδρομος) we find ourselves reflecting on some powerful and meaningful passages of Sacred Scripture. The passages we have heard, taken from the Gospel of Luke (1:1-25, 57-68, 76, 80) and from Romans (13:11-14:4), speak to us of preparation, hope, and the light of salvation that Christ brings into our lives.
In the Holy Gospel of Luke, we find the narration of the announcement of the birth of John the Baptist. This event marks the beginning of a new chapter in God’s plan for the redemption of humanity. Zechariah and Elizabeth, despite their advanced age and Elizabeth’s infertility, are blessed with the birth of a son, John. This reminds us that nothing is impossible for God and that He works according to His perfect times and ways.
The experience of Zechariah, who temporarily loses his voice because of his unbelief, teaches us the importance of faith and trust in God’s promises. When John is finally born, Zechariah regains his voice and bursts into a song of praise to God, the "Benedictus". This song expresses gratitude for God’s mercy and recognizes the mission of little John, who will prepare the way for the Lord.
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus himself says, "Truly I say to you, among the born of woman there is not one greater than John the Baptist" (Matthew 11:11). This recognition by Jesus underlines the greatness of John and his unique mission.
The life and message of Saint John the Baptist are also of great importance for us today. He invites us to conversion, to prepare our hearts to welcome Christ. His call to penance and purification reminds us of the importance of living a holy life, of being ready to receive the Lord every day. Moreover, John teaches us humility and submission to God’s will. He never sought his own glory, but he always pointed to Christ as the Savior: "He must grow, and I must diminish" (John 3:30).
Turning to the Letter to the Romans, Saint Paul exhorts us to live with urgency and vigilance, recognizing that "it is time to wake from sleep" (Romans 13:11). He reminds us that our salvation is closer now than when we believed, and that we must abandon the works of darkness to put on the weapons of light.
Paul encourages us to live in a way worthy of our Christian calling, behaving honestly and renouncing worldly passions. To clothe ourselves in Christ means to adopt His way of living, loving our neighbour and seeking justice. This is particularly relevant in a world that often distracts us and distances us from the true values of the Gospel.
In Romans 14, Paul addresses the theme of mutual judgment, inviting us not to criticize or despise our brothers and sisters in Christ for secondary questions. He reminds us that each of us will answer to God for his own actions. This challenges us to live with humility, love and understanding, welcoming others as Christ has welcomed us.
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, let us continue to reflect on the figure of Saint John the Baptist, deepening how he is represented in the Divine Liturgy.
First, Saint John was a Nazarene monk, and the Nazarenes did not drink alcohol or eat meat. When the Scriptures speak of John eating honey and locusts, they do not refer to insects, but to the fruits of Ceratonia siliqua, Carob, a species belonging to the Leguminosae family native to Syria and Palestine and today typical of the Mediterranean area. Both seeds and siliques are edible.
During the Divine Liturgy, Saint John the Baptist is commemorated in various parts of the service. One of the most significant prayers is the "Prayer to the Mother of God and to all Saints", where John is mentioned as the greatest of the prophets and the Precursor of the Lord. Moreover, in the prayer of intercession, Saint John the Baptist is asked to pray for the people of God.
The Fathers of the Orthodox Church, such as Saint Basil the Great and Saint Gregory of Nazianzus, have written much about Saint John the Baptist. Saint Basil the Great sees John as a model of ascetic life and true devotion. He writes: "John, who lived in the desert, who fed on locusts and wild honey, shows us that the life of those who are dedicated to God must be pure and far from worldly concerns" (Saint Basil the Great, "Homilies and Letters", PG 31).
John the Baptist represents the continuous call to metanoia, conversion and return to God. His life of penance and prayer is an example for all who seek to live a life in Christ. His fidelity to God, even in the face of persecution and death, is a call to fidelity and perseverance in the faith.
Dear friends, as we continue to reflect on the figure of Saint John the Baptist and his representation in the Divine Liturgy, it is important to deepen some key moments of the liturgy itself, that help us to better understand the meaning of this celebration and of our faith.
One of the most significant moments of the Divine Liturgy is the Small Entrance. During the Little Entrance, the priest and the deacons leave the sanctuary and make a short walk through the nave of the church, bringing with them the Book of Gospels. The clergy stopped in front of the iconostasis, in front of the royal door, and then returned to the sanctuary.
The Small Entrance has a deep symbology. It represents Christ’s coming into the world, bringing the light of His Word to all peoples. It is a moment of great solemnity and recollection, during which the faithful are invited to prepare their hearts to receive the message of the Gospel. This rite also reminds us of Jesus entering the synagogue to read the Scriptures, as recorded in the Gospel of Luke (Luke 4:16-21), where Jesus announces his messianic mission.
During the Little Entrance, a deacon or acolyte precedes the priest carrying a lighted candle. This candle has a very rich symbolic meaning. The light of the candle represents Christ Himself, the "light of the world" (John 8:12). He brings the divine light that illuminates the darkness of sin and ignorance. The presence of the candle during the entrance of the Gospel symbolizes the presence of Christ who comes to illuminate the minds and hearts of the faithful through His Word and it is also the light of divinization, which allows us to grow in God (Theosis). Saint John is the last of the prophets, the one who announces the kingdom and prepares the way for Christ, opening hearts to receive the light of life, Jesus. We see this in the icon of the descent into hell, where John preaches to the souls of every age that Jesus is the fulfilment of the Scriptures and the promise of the Father.
The candle lit before the Gospel also reminds us of the words of Psalm 119:105: "Your word is a lamp at my foot and a light on my path". The Word of God is a sure guide in our lives, a light that directs us towards truth and justice. When we see the candle that precedes the Gospel, we are called to recognize the sacredness of the moment and to prepare ourselves with reverence and attention to listening to the Scriptures.
In this liturgical context, we can see a parallel with Saint John the Baptist, the Precursor. As the candle precedes the Gospel, John the Baptist preceded Christ, preparing the way for His coming. John, in fact, illuminated people’s journey towards Jesus, calling them to conversion and penance. He testified to the true light that was about to come into the world, as described in the prologue of John’s Gospel: "A man came from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to bear witness to the light, so that all might believe through him" (John 1:6-7).
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, in the context of the Orthodox Divine Liturgy, prosthesis (or proskomedia) is a highly symbolic and important moment, during which the gifts of bread (Prosphora) and wine for consecration are prepared. In this context, a part is reserved for Saint John the Baptist, a gesture that contains a deep theological and liturgical significance.
This ritual generally takes place in a small chapel or in a separate part of the sanctuary called "prothesis" or "proskomide".
During the prosthesis, the priest uses a special knife called "lance" to cut the bread and form the large central lamb, representing Christ, the Lamb of God. Around this central lamb, are placed other smaller particles representing the Mother of God, the Saints and the faithful alive and departed. Among these parts, one is specifically reserved for Saint John the Baptist.
The inclusion of a particle for Saint John the Baptist has several meanings:
Recognition of His Unique Role: Saint John the Baptist is recognized as the greatest of the prophets and the precursor of Christ. Reserving a piece of him during the prosthesis is a way to honor his crucial role in the history of salvation. John prepared the way for the Lord and baptized Jesus, introducing the Saviour’s public ministry.
·Intercession Prayer: During the Divine Liturgy, the Church prays through the intercession of Saint John the Baptist, asking that, through his powerful intercession, God may grant mercy and grace to the faithful. To reserve a place for him is an act of veneration and a request for his continual prayer for the Church.
·Testimony of Holiness: Saint John the Baptist is a model of ascetic life, penitence and total dedication to God. The detail reserved for him is a recognition of his holiness and an invitation to the faithful to follow his example of authentic and radical Christian life.
This gesture of reserving a place for Saint John the Baptist during the prosthesis invites us to reflect on the communion of saints and on the mystery of the Church as the Body of Christ. In this communion, Saint John the Baptist occupies a special place as the one who prepared the way for Christ. He continues to be a beacon of light and an example of fidelity to God and as we celebrate the Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist and reflect on his figure, It is important to consider how his example and message can influence and enrich our personal lives.
Like Saint John the Baptist, I too am called to a continuous conversion. John preached, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near" (Matthew 3:2). This message is for me a constant invitation to examine my heart and to seek a deeper union with God. My life, like that of John, can be a beacon of light and hope for those around me.
I would like to share with you an episode that happened last Sunday. I accompanied some young people to the opening of a ceramic exhibition in a historic village in the province of Rimini. Since we had arrived a few minutes early, I decided to take guests to the property where I work to visit the Cathedral, which was open. Once I came in, I told them, "Now, pray". At a certain point, one of them looked at me and, with total sincerity, asked me: "And what prayer should I say?". I answered: "Pray with your heart or just say a Hail Mary". " I don’t know it!" he replied. So I guided him in front of a statue of Our Lady and he, of his own free will, knelt and prayed with me.
This episode reminded me of the importance of God’s invitation, transmitted through the Archangel Gabriel, to participate in His life by welcoming the Gospel. Mary answered "yes" to this invitation for the good of the whole world, and we express our thanks by reciting the Hail Mary.
Likewise, Saint John the Baptist was a bold witness to the truth, even when it meant facing persecution and martyrdom. Like him, we are called to be witnesses of the truth in our daily context. This can mean defending what is right, speaking courageously against injustice and living with integrity and honesty. Our life can be a living witness to the truth of Christ, positively influencing the people we meet.
John the Baptist is a model of humility, declaring, "He must grow, and I must decrease" (John 3:30). This attitude of humility guides me in my service to God and to others. Every act of humility and service in my life reflects Christ’s love.
Saint John the Baptist showed an unshakable faith in God’s providence, even in the most difficult circumstances. I, like him, in moments of uncertainty or challenge, place my trust in God, knowing that he is always with me and that he guides me.
Beloved brethren in Christ, the little part dedicated to John in the liturgy of the prosthesis invites us to recognize his holiness and to pray that, through his intercession, we may be guided and supported on our journey of faith.
The key messages of Saint John the Baptist remain relevant and fundamental even today. His call to conversion challenges us to a constant renewal of the heart, a return to God and a life of holiness. His witness to the truth, his humility and his service offer us a model of Christian life that focuses on integrity, courage and dedication to the common good. His life of prayer and discipline invites us to cultivate a deep relationship with God, finding strength and guidance in daily prayer.
The figure of Saint John the Baptist also calls us to a personal application of these teachings. We are invited to be witnesses of the truth in our daily context, to live with humility and to serve others with love. John’s trust in God’s providence encourages us to keep our faith, even in difficulties, knowing that God is always with us. Finally, as John prepared the way for Christ, we are called to prepare the hearts of others to meet the Lord through our actions and words.
May Saint John the Baptist intercede for us and guide us on our journey of faith, so that we may live a life full of love, truth and service to God and to others.
Amen.
May the Lord, Holy and Almighty Father fill you with his Love today and always. Amen.
Archpriest Michele Alberto Del Duca.
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