Hello friends, it’s Fr. ADD here. Today, June 24, 2026, we celebrate one of the most beautiful feasts in our Church calendar: the Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist. Usually, we celebrate a saint on the day they died (their "birthday" into heaven), but John is special. Along with Jesus and Mary, he is one of the few whose physical birth we celebrate with a major feast.
Why? Because John’s very existence was a miracle that signaled a new dawn for the world. As we look at the daily readings from Isaiah 49:1-6 and Luke 1:57-66, 80, there is so much wisdom for us to unpack about our own lives, our names, and our mission in the world.
Known from the Womb
In the first reading, the prophet Isaiah speaks words that resonate deep in the soul: “The Lord called me from the womb, from the body of my mother he named my name.”
Think about that for a second. Before you were even a thought to your parents, you were a priority to God. In a world where we often feel like just another face in the crowd or a data point on a screen, the birth of John the Baptist reminds us that none of us are accidents.
God doesn't do "random." He has a specific plan and a "name" for each of us before we even take our first breath. Just as John was set apart for a unique mission, you have been crafted with specific gifts for a purpose that only you can fulfill. Whether you are a parent, a student, a worker, or a retiree, your life is a deliberate act of God’s love.
The Power of a Name
The Gospel today gives us a bit of a family drama! When Elizabeth gives birth, the neighbors and relatives assume the baby will be named Zechariah after his father. It was the safe choice, the traditional choice. But Elizabeth stands firm: “No, he shall be called John.”
When they turn to Zechariah: who had been mute since the angel Gabriel first told him he’d have a son: he writes on a tablet: “John is his name.” Immediately, his speech is restored, and he begins to praise God.
Naming John wasn't just about picking a trendy name or breaking tradition; it was about acknowledging God’s unique plan. In Hebrew, John (Yochanan) means “The Lord is gracious.” Every time someone called out his name in the streets of Judea, they were unknowingly proclaiming a fundamental truth: God is good, and He is acting in our lives.
When we accept the "name" or the identity God gives us: as His beloved children: we find our own voices. Like Zechariah, our "speech is restored" when we stop trying to live up to everyone else's expectations and start living according to God’s gracious will.
Preparing the Way
John’s entire life can be summed up in one phrase: pointing away from himself and toward Jesus. He was the "voice crying out in the desert." The Gospel tells us that as he grew, he “became strong in spirit” and lived in the desert until the day of his manifestation to Israel.
That time in the desert wasn't wasted. It was a time of intense preparation. John had to become "strong in spirit" so that he wouldn't be swayed by the crowds or the politicians of his day. His only job was to be a "forerunner": the one who goes ahead to make sure the path is ready for the King.
We are all called to be forerunners in our own circles. In your family, your workplace, or your neighborhood, you are called to be the one who points toward the Light. You don't have to be the Light yourself; you just have to help people see where it’s coming from.
Nurturing the "John the Baptists" of Today
At the Society of St. Peter the Apostle (SPA), we see the miracle of John the Baptist happening every single day.
While John was prepared in the literal desert, there are thousands of young men and women today: seminarians and novices: who are being prepared in the "mission territories" of the world. These are the future priests and religious sisters in places like Africa, Asia, and Latin America. They are the ones who will be the "voices crying out" in the wilderness of our modern world, bringing the Sacraments and the Gospel to those who haven't heard it.
When you support the Society of St. Peter the Apostle, you are doing exactly what Elizabeth and Zechariah did: you are saying "Yes" to a miraculous vocation. You are helping a young man or woman in a mission land grow "strong in spirit" so they can herald the coming of the Lord in their own culture and language. Your prayers and donations are the "gift" that allows these new vocations to flourish, ensuring that the message "The Lord is gracious" continues to be heard in every corner of the earth.
A Small Reflection for You
Do you ever feel like your life doesn't have a "big" enough mission? Maybe you feel like you’re stuck in your own version of a desert.
Take a moment today to ask St. John the Baptist for his intercession. Ask him to help you see how you are called to "prepare the way" for Jesus in the small, everyday moments. Maybe it’s a kind word to a coworker, a moment of patience with a child, or a silent prayer for a stranger. These are the ways we point others to Christ.
Conclusion
The people in today's Gospel asked with wonder, “What, then, will this child be?”
Today, I invite you to marvel at the unique plan God has for your life. You were named before you were born. You are called to be a light. And thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for helping us nurture the "John the Baptists" of the 21st century through your love for the missions. Through your support of SPA, you are making the miracle of vocation possible.
God bless you!
( Fr.) ADD