Saint John the Baptist is aptly called the “forerunner” of our Lord Jesus Christ. A forerunner is literally someone who “goes ahead” of another. In other words, John prepared his fellow Jews for the ministry of Jesus. In this role, John mirrored the life of Jesus in a prefiguring way.
The birth of John the Baptist was announced to John’s father Zechariah by the angel Gabriel. Likewise, the birth of Jesus was foretold to the Virgin Mary by the same angel. Both John and Jesus prepared for their public ministry through a period of prayer and seclusion in the wilderness. John was the voice that prepared the way for Jesus, the Word. John and Jesus both ran afoul of the civil authorities and were quickly disposed of in cruel ways, more out of convenience than principle.
In the liturgical calendar of the Church, the births of John and Jesus are celebrated as solemnities on June 24 and December 25, respectively. Likewise, the Passion of John is celebrated every year on August 29, while the Passion of the Lord is celebrated annually on Good Friday.
One of the most important characteristics of John the Baptist was that he was completely authentic and a true disciple of Jesus. He did not pretend, he knew his mission and he fulfilled it. The Bible records the words of the prophet Isaiah to John: “A voice calls in the desert, ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight'” (Mk 1:3). Regarding his relationship with Jesus, John said: “After me comes one mightier than I. I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thongs of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit” (Mk 1:7-8).
When John later noticed that a possible dispute was brewing between his followers and those of Jesus, he affirmed that he was not the Messiah, but had been sent before him. (John 3:28) He then stated unequivocally that Jesus must increase and he must decrease. (John 3:30)
On the other hand, Herod, who had John beheaded, was completely insincere and dishonest. The Bible says that John scourged Herod for marrying Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip. Herodias then bore a grudge against John and had him arrested by Herod. “Herod feared John, because he knew that he was a just and holy man. … When he heard him speak, he was very perplexed, yet he listened to him willingly.” (Mark 6:20)
When Herod made a foolish oath to the daughter of Herodias to grant her heart’s desire for delighting him and his guests with her dancing, he was greatly distressed when the girl, at her mother’s insistence, asked for the head of John the Baptist on a platter. He acted against his deepest feelings just to appease Herodias and not break his word and embarrass himself in front of his guests. It is noteworthy that Pontius Pilate acted in a similar way when he handed Jesus over to the mob for crucifixion.
So the story of John the Baptist and Herod presents a stark contrast between the two. John always acted to save souls. Herod acted against his conscience just to save face. John was open, honest, and sincere; Herod was pretentious, dishonest, and deceitful.
The challenge for all of us modern disciples of Jesus is clear. Our authenticity as disciples of Christ is clearly demonstrated by our actions, not our words. And the way we vote is an important, indeed crucial, indicator of that authenticity.
To help Catholics prepare to vote, the bishops of the United States have created a guide available online: Forming Conscience for Faithful Citizenship. The document contains a wealth of information from Catholic teaching to inspire us to embrace “the spirit of Christ” (1 Cor. 2:16) as we seek to fulfill our civic duty in a responsible manner.
The document is not based on partisanship or personalities, the latest news or social media trends, but on timeless values and principles. By remembering the example of the Good Samaritan, we are encouraged to consider our calling as citizens of both the United States and the world. Therefore, we are called to bind up and heal the wounds of injustice, hatred and division among all people and to seek the common good.
According to our nation’s most fundamental founding principle, set forth in the first sentence of the “Declaration of Independence,” the Catholic voter is obligated to uphold the human being’s inalienable right to life. Serious threats to human life and dignity include euthanasia, gun violence, terrorism, the death penalty and human trafficking. However, the guide states, “The threat of abortion remains our top priority because it directly attacks our most vulnerable and voiceless brothers and sisters, destroying over a million lives annually in our country alone.”
The virtue of prudence is highlighted as indispensable for a well-formed conscience. This cardinal virtue enables us to “discern our true good in every situation and to choose the right means to achieve it.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1806) Cultivating this virtue enables us to do good and avoid evil.
Everything presented in this guide is designed to help us fulfill our role as citizens who are not only responsible and well-informed, but also true, authentic disciples of Christ. So as we consider candidates for elected office this year, we should strive to put aside personalities and individual quirks, difficult as that may be, as well as subtle and obvious media biases. Instead, we should focus on the big issues of the day and how the candidates’ past statements and policies inform how they are likely to address them in the future.
As Catholics, we pride ourselves on our authenticity as unabashed followers of Jesus, just like John the Baptist. Are the candidates running for high office this year really the people they claim to be in political ads, in interviews, and in the debates? We have a right to demand authenticity from them and a duty to discern their truthfulness. May St. John the Baptist be our patron and guide in this task.
Father Edward Kolla is a retired priest of the diocese.
