12th Sunday in Ordinary Time

​St John the Baptist
Monday is the Feast of the birth of St John the Baptist.  The church celebrates the birthday of only three people; Jesus, Mary and St. John the Baptist.
 
Pope Benedict wrote that “John the Baptist had the profound humility to hold up Jesus as the One sent by God, drawing back so that Jesus might take the lead, and be heard and followed. As his last act the Baptist witnessed with his blood to faithfulness to God’s commandments, without giving in or withdrawing, carrying out his mission to the very end.
 
In one of his Homilies the Venerable Bede says: “St John gave his life for Christ. He was not ordered to deny Jesus Christ, but was ordered to keep silent about the truth” And he did not keep silent about the truth and thus died for Christ who is the Truth. Precisely for love of the truth he did not stoop to compromises and did not fear to address strong words to anyone who had strayed from God’s path.”