On June 24 we recall the Nativity of John the Baptist, which is the Patronal Feast Day of our Diocese.

John the Baptist is about 6 months older than Jesus, and he is the one who baptizes Jesus in the River Jordan at the start of Jesus’ ministry.  John’s father is Zacharias and his mother is Elizabeth, the sister of Mary.

John taught those who followed him to turn to Christ.  He called Jesus the “Lamb of God” (John 1:29).  In all that John did, he pointed his followers toward Christ instead of calling attention to himself.  We can adopt this same humility in our own lives.  When we do good works, may we do them out of love and in God’s name, for the good of all people.