35- ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST
		
		
		John the Baptist plays a key role in the New Testament. 
		He is the bridge, the Forerunner, the one sent to prepare 
		the way of the Lord. His holiness turned the hearts of 
		the Israelites to repentance, thus making them capable of 
		accepting the coming of the Messiah. 
		
		
		The commemoration of St. John's Nativity is one of the 
		older, if not the oldest, feasts in honor of any Saint 
		found in the Church. Ordinarily the Church observes the 
		day of a Saint's death because that day marks his 
		entrance into heaven. St. John is an exception to this 
		rule because he was "filled with the Holy Spirit from 
		his mother's womb." His nativity, therefore, is already 
		a day of triumph. Nothing can be said with certainty as 
		to the date of the birth of St. John the Baptist. The 
		gospel suggests that he was born about six months before 
		Christ. (Lk. 1: 5-25) 
		
		
		In addition to the Feast of the Nativity of St. John the 
		Baptist, the Church has commemorated the martyrdom of 
		Christ's Forerunner since the fourth century. The story 
		of the Saint's death is among the most dramatic narratives
		in the Bible. 
		
		
		St. John the Baptist is represented with two large wings 
		because he is the messenger of the Messiah. It is about 
		this man that Scripture says, "I send my messenger ahead 
		of you to prepare the way before you." (Mt. 11: 10) In the
		icon, John makes the gesture of the preacher with his 
		right hand and holds an open scroll in his left hand which
		proclaims the message of his preaching. "Reform your 
		lives! The reign of God is at hand." (Mt. 3: 2) As a man 
		of the desert he is clothed in a camel's hair garment. 
		The rocks behind the Forerunner represent the wilderness,
		and the strip of water below his feet represents the 
		Jordan River. We also find some bushes and an axe "laid 
		to the root of the tree," (Mt. 3: 10) alluding to the 
		words of his preaching. In the lower left hand corner, a 
		cup with the head of St. John recalls that he would end 
		his life in martyrdom. St. John the Baptist stands before 
		us and calls us to repentance before the Lord. 
		
		
		TROPARION -The remembrance of the Just is worthy of praise,
		but the Lord's testimony is sufficient for you, O 
		Forerunner; for it has shown that you are indeed more 
		worthy of honor than the Prophets, for you were found 
		worthy to baptize in the waters Him Whom you announced. 
		Thereafter, you suffered for the truth, and rejoicing, 
		announced the good news also to those in the lower regions
		that God had appeared as man, taking away the sins of the 
		world and granting to all of us the abundance of mercy.

		I have something valuable to give the world
		
		
		Each of us brings to the world unique talents, gifts and 
		abilities. Even if you don't know what it is, or value what 
		you do, someone, somewhere, will benefit from your presence. 
		No one can do what you do exactly the way you do it. It is 
		this uniqueness that makes you valuable to the world. We are 
		each as unique and valuable as the other, It was designed 
		that way. A gift from God. Gifts are not given on the basis 
		of race or gender.  As a matter of truth, gifts come in many 
		shapes, sizes and colors. When you do what you do, exactly 
		the way you do it, you are sharing God's gifts, bestowed for 
		the good of the world.
		
		
		Nothing can dim the light which shines from within.
		

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