Homily: June 24, 2025, Solemnity of the Birth of John the Baptist

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 “What, then, will this child be?”

One of the greatest joys of my ministry as a priest is baptizing and welcoming new Catholics, whether adults, youth, young children or babies. At St. Ambrose, I have witnessed an overwhelming number of baptisms compared to funerals. Last year, we had over 70 baptisms, only 8 funerals. Thanks be to God!

In my last four years here, I have had the privilege of baptizing at least 150 babies. Every baptism is a celebration of new life in Christ, a rebirth, a new creation.

And very often, shortly after a child is born, families would invite me either to the hospital, or once they get home, to pray for, to bless or simply to be present with them as they rejoice in the arrival of their newborn. The birth of a child is a profound sign of a greater force at work. 

As I gaze at these beautiful little bundles of new life, like the people at the birth of John the Baptist, I too wonder: What will this child be? How will God work through this life?

When I was born, nobody would have guessed that my vocation would be priesthood. Even as I was growing up, all they could see in me was trouble. But God knows. He has a purpose and a plan for me. For you also.

In today’s first reading, we hear two powerful declarations: “I will make you a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth,” and “You are my servant, Israel, through whom I show my glory.”

These words reveal our purpose and religious calling, they are the foundation of our own Christian mission: to be light in a world of darkness, to reflect God’s glory in all that we say and do.

In whatever vocation we are called to, in whatever life situation we are in, the mission does not change. We are the light of Christ, called to shine wherever we are placed, to light up the world in whichever corner we are rooted.

To fulfil our God-given mission, we need to remain faithful, like John the Baptist. Like the saints, we too are called to a life of holiness. This is what we are called to be, from the day of our birth, and this is what we will be, by the end of our time.

And for every newborn in our communities, every newly baptized Catholic in our parish, we pray the same, that they may grow in wisdom and grace, may they be kept from sin and despair, may they be faithful to the mission entrusted to them by Christ, to be a light for the nations, a servant through which God’s glory will shine.

Amen.


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