No greater man was born of woman than John the Baptist, our Lord said

“I must decrease and He must increase” (John 3:30) – These are the words of John the Baptist – Remember them!

Gospel text (Lk 1:57-66): When the time came for Elizabeth , she gave birth to a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the merciful Lord had done a wonderful thing for her and they rejoiced with her. When on the eighth day they came to attend the circumcision of the child, they wanted to name him Zechariah after his father. But his mother said, «Not so; he shall be called John». They said to her, «No one in your family has that name»; and they asked the father by means of signs for the name he wanted to give. Zechariah asked for a writing tablet and wrote on it, «His name is John», and they were very surprised. Immediately Zechariah could speak again and his first words were in praise of God. A holy fear came on all in the neighborhood, and throughout the Hills of Judea the people talked about these events. All who heard of it pondered in their minds and wondered, «What will this child be?». For they understood that the hand of the Lord was with him.

Today’s Gospel passage recalls almost fondly the birth of John the Baptist, who will be the forerunner and messenger of the Lord whom we all seek. The Precursor's birth speaks of the proximity of Christmas. The Lord is at hand! Let's get ourselves ready! When asked who he was by the priests who had come from Jerusalem , John said: «I am the voice crying out in the wilderness: Make straight the way of the Lord» (Jn 1:23).

«Look, I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my call and open the door, I will come in to you and have supper with you, and you with me» (Rev 3:20), we read in the Communion antiphon. It is necessary to examine ourselves to see how we are preparing ourselves to receive Jesus this Christmas: God, more than anything, wants to be born in our hearts.

The Precursor's life teaches us the virtues we need to receive Jesus properly; fundamentally, humility of the heart. He acknowledges himself as an instrument of God, to fulfil his vocation, his mission. As Saint Ambrose says: «Do not boast that they call you son of God —let us acknowledge His grace without forgetting our human nature—; do not become proud if you have served well because you have done just what was expected from you. The sun does its job, the moon obeys, the angels of the Lord do their duty. The instrument chosen by God to serve the Gentiles said: ‘I am the last of the apostles, and I do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God ’ (1Cor 15:9)».

We are looking for the glory of God only. The virtue of humility will help us to prepare ourselves for the coming festivities appropriately.