Imitate John the Baptist, Pope tells congregation
June 24, 2014
Christians should follow the example of St. John the Baptist, and “diminish ourselves so that the Lord can grow in our hearts and in the souls of others,” Pope Francis said in a homily on June 24.
Preaching on the feast of the birth of John the Baptist, the Holy Father said that St. John, “the greatest of the prophets,” had a threefold role. First he prepared people for the coming of the Messiah, then he pointed out Jesus as “the Lamb of God.”
Third, and most difficult, St. John accepted his own inferior role as Jesus entered into public ministry, the Pope observed. “Christians,” he said, “must be able to diminish ourselves so that the Lord may grow.”
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Posted by: John J Plick -
Jun. 26, 2014 12:47 PM ET USA
As much honor as we give him, to me "the Baptist" and what he was asked "to do" is not fully appreciated. The end of this poor man's life was a pinnacle of faith & self-humiliation. It is most likely that he {the Baptist} along with the Apostles looked for a much more concrete and immediate manifestation of the Kingdom of God. But Our Lord's stern requirement of him to die (in faith) was met, and today all Christians look forward to greeting him in Eternity!
