St. John the Baptist... a saint, who was a saint because he pointed to Christ with his entire being, with every breath, every word, yes, even with his blood.
St. John the Baptist was a saint because he understood that it wasn't about him. It was about Jesus, his cousin, the child of Mary, the God-man whose way he was sent to prepare.
We don't always end up being heralds of Christ in ways we anticipate. Life has plenty of twists and turns, and sometimes we find ourselves somewhere unexpected, doing things we'd never considered before.
Perhaps St. John never thought he'd find himself standing in the Jordan, baptizing the Son of God.
Perhaps he never thought he'd find himself called to martyrdom.
Whatever he did or did not anticipate happening in his life, he accepted it with grace, and glorified God through all of it - pointing people to Christ in the process. He rolled with the punches, and didn't think twice about taking the blows, embracing the cross when taking the blows ended up requiring his life.
It's something we should all strive for. Every. Single. Day.
Think about the people in your life. Is there someone, or are there a few "someones," who point you toward Christ through the way they live their lives? Who are the people that roll with the punches, who take life as it comes - with grace - who reflect the peace and love of God, no matter what situation they're in? These people herald the presence of Jesus the way St. John the Baptist did. They show us how to live and how to die, they show us how to suffer, how to struggle in faith and hope and love... And so it should be with us... that through our lives, we may show others how to live and how to die, how to suffer, how to struggle in faith and hope and love. St. John the Baptist, pray for us!
+Peace and good.
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