Today is Dec. 23, Monday of the Fourth Week of Advent.
As Advent progresses, the Church directs our attention to the extraordinary birth of John the Baptist, the herald of the Messiah. In reflecting on John’s birth, we see God’s plan of salvation unfolding, preparing us for the glorious nativity of Christ.
Today’s readings show how John’s conception itself was a miracle. His parents, Zechariah and Elizabeth, were elderly and childless, yet God answered their prayers and granted them a son. The angel Gabriel declared to Zechariah that John would be “great in the sight of the Lord” and would “prepare a people fit for the Lord” (Lk 1:15, 17). John’s very existence was a sign that God’s promises to His people were being fulfilled.
John’s birth points directly to the coming of Christ. Just as John leapt in Elizabeth’s womb when Mary, carrying Jesus, came to visit (Lk 1:41), so too does John’s mission point entirely to Jesus. He is the forerunner, the one who prepares the way. His birth reminds us that God’s plans often begin quietly, in the hidden places of human history, before they burst forth in glory.
Preparing hearts to receive the Savior
There is great joy at John’s birth. Zechariah, filled with the Holy Spirit, proclaims the beautiful prayer we call the “Benedictus” after its first word in Latin: “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; for he has come to his people and set them free” (Lk 1:68). This prayer anticipates the even greater joy that will come at the birth of Jesus, when God Himself takes on human flesh to dwell among us. John’s life was entirely oriented toward this reality. He was born to point others to the Light — to prepare hearts to receive the Savior.
As we reflect on the birth of John the Baptist, we are invited to consider how God is preparing our own hearts for Christ. John’s message, “Prepare the way of the Lord” (Mt 3:3), echoes throughout this Advent season. Are we allowing space for Christ to enter our lives? Are we clearing away the distractions, sins and anxieties that keep us from fully embracing His coming?
John’s humility is a powerful example for us. He knew that his mission was not to draw attention to himself but to point others to Jesus, saying, “He must increase; I must decrease” (Jn 3:30). In this final stretch of Advent, we too are called to decrease — to let go of ourselves so that Christ might reign in our hearts.
Let us pray,
Almighty ever-living God, as we see how the nativity of your son according to the flesh draws near, we pray that to us, your unworthy servants, mercy may flow from your Word, who chose to become flesh of the Virgin Mary and establish among us his dwelling, Jesus Christ our Lord. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.
