Homily on St. John the Baptist
(Based on the Gospel of John, Chapter 1:29–34)
by Priest Aleksandar Radunovic of the Diocese of Western Europe
O holy Forerunner, voice of one crying in the wilderness, who in the valley of a fallen world lifted your eyes to the coming Savior and proclaimed: “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” Your voice was not merely the voice of man, but the trumpet of eternal truth, echoing through the ages in its longing for the Redeemer.
You, illumined by the uncreated light of the Spirit, beheld what human eyes could not see—the dove, a symbol of heavenly peace, descending as the grace of the Holy Spirit upon the Only-Begotten Son. How mysterious and profound is this meeting of the old world, which you represented, with the new world, revealed by the Lord.
You were a witness, not merely in the flesh but also in the Spirit. Your baptism with water was not merely an external cleansing but a foretaste of the baptism in the Holy Spirit, which you foretold. “He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’” Oh, what a word this is! You, who prepared the way, shone not with your own light but as a reflection of the One who is the Light of the world.
Holy John, your testimony was nothing less than the mystery of God’s manifestation in the world. Your voice in the wilderness was like a fire driving away the darkness of sin, and your words like a sword dividing truth from falsehood. You revealed the Lamb of God, but also the slaughtering of the world’s sin. How deep is this phrase: “The Lamb of God!” For the Lamb is meek, the Lamb is gentle, yet the Lamb is also slain—not by weakness, but by the power of His love.
John, you did not know Christ in the flesh until He came to you, but in the depths of your soul, you recognized Him. In the Holy Spirit, you beheld Him who is before all ages. How great is this testimony, not given to you by man, but by the heavenly Father! How gracious is this truth: you, the greatest among those born of women, did not exalt yourself but humbled yourself so that He might increase.
John, our prayerful father in the wilderness, teach us to silence the noise of this world and hear the voice of the Lamb of God. Grant us to witness to the world as you did, not with words of vanity, but with humility, not with pride, but with love.
The Lamb of God, whom you revealed to the world, has taken upon Himself our sins. You stood on the banks of the Jordan, yet you were a bridge between time and eternity. May we also become witnesses of the Lamb of God, who leads us from sin into the light of His Kingdom.
Amen.
