23/06/2026
HOMILY | Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist
Gospel: Luke 1:57–66, 80
Allow me to begin with a simple question: How many of you know your birthday?
Of course, all of us do.
But here is a more difficult question: How many of us know why we were born?
There is a saying often attributed to Mark Twain: “The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.”
Today, as we celebrate the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist, we celebrate both. We celebrate the day John was born. But even more importantly, we celebrate the purpose for which he was born.
The Gospel tells us that after John’s birth, the neighbors and relatives were filled with wonder and began asking: “What, then, will this child be?”
That is one of the most beautiful questions in the Bible. Every parent asks that question while looking at a newborn child. What will this child become? Will he be kind? Will she be faithful? Will he make a difference in the world?
But perhaps that question is not only for children. Maybe God is asking the same question about each one of us today: What will you become with the life I have given you?
Many people spend years trying to discover their purpose. Some think their purpose is simply to earn money. Others think it is to become successful, respected, or powerful. But after a while, they realize that success alone does not satisfy the heart. You can have money and still feel empty. You can have achievements and still feel lost. Why? Because we were made for something greater than ourselves.
John the Baptist understood this. His mission was not glamorous. He did not build a kingdom. He did not become rich. He did not occupy a high political position. His entire life could be summarized in one sentence: He prepared the way for Jesus. That was his purpose. And because he knew his purpose, his life had direction, meaning, and joy.
Notice something beautiful about John. He never tried to be somebody else. When people praised him, he pointed to Christ. When people followed him, he led them to Christ. When his popularity began to decline, he said: “He must increase; I must decrease.” What a beautiful attitude.
In our world today, many people want to be noticed. Many want followers, recognition, and applause. Yet John teaches us that a truly meaningful life is not measured by how many people know our name, but by how many people come closer to God because we lived.
My dear brothers and sisters, perhaps most of us will never do anything extraordinary. Most of us will not become saints whose names are written in books. But every day God gives us opportunities to fulfill our mission.
A mother who patiently raises her children in the faith is preparing the way for the Lord. A father who works honestly and teaches integrity is preparing the way for the Lord. A teacher who inspires students, a doctor who treats patients with compassion, a priest who faithfully serves his people, a young person who chooses goodness over peer pressure—all of them are preparing the way for the Lord.
And that brings me to a story.
Many years ago, a teacher was asked on the day of her retirement, “What is the greatest achievement of your life?”
People expected her to mention awards, recognitions, or accomplishments. Instead, she smiled and said: “Every now and then, a former student comes up to me and says, ‘Ma’am, because of your encouragement, I did not give up on life.’ That is enough for me.”
She never became famous. Most people outside her town never knew her name. But she had discovered why she was born. She used her life to help others become who God wanted them to be.
And isn’t that what John the Baptist did? He spent his life helping people find Jesus.
Today, as we celebrate his birth, let us thank God for the gift of our own life. But let us also pray for something even more important: “Lord, help me discover why You created me. Help me use my life for Your purpose, not just for my own comfort. Help me prepare the way for You in the lives of others.”
Because at the end of our life, what will matter most is not how long we lived, how much we earned, or how famous we became. What will matter is whether we fulfilled the mission God entrusted to us.
