Day 21

John wore clothing made of camel’s hair and had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. Matthew 3:4

John the Baptist was a prophet who was on fire for the Lord. This means that He lived with holy boldness. He dedicated his life to preparing the Israelites for the long awaited Messiah — his cousin, Jesus! He encouraged them to repent of their sins and to be baptized. This is why he is called John the “Baptist.” 

These baptisms John performed were not yet a sacrament. A sacrament is a formal rite of the Church instituted by Jesus. Sacraments are an instrument of God’s grace — this means that when we receive a sacrament, we receive grace, or God’s Life, within us. Because John the Baptist was a prophet, he let everyone know what was coming. He told the Israelites that Jesus was going to soon baptize not just with water but with water and the Holy Spirit! 

One day, Jesus came to the shore where John was baptizing people and asked to be baptized. John was confused. He knew that Jesus was perfect and had no sin to repent. John said something like, “I should be baptized by you, but you ask me to baptize you?!” In summary, Jesus responded with a "Yup!" After John baptized Jesus, a beautiful dove descended from the sky, and God spoke from the heavens for all to hear! Can you imagine being John? He baptized Jesus, saw the Holy Spirit, and heard God the Father all in one afternoon! What a gift for John to experience. 

Today, Baptism is a sacrament. This means that Baptism is much more than just a symbol, like when John the Baptist performed them. Jesus chose Baptism as the way to become a member of His Church. Baptism washes away the original sin of Adam and Eve and fills our soul with the Life of God, making us sons and daughters of God. Our Baptism incorporates us into God’s family tree and makes the Story of Salvation our story too! 

John lived an ascetic life. This means that he lived a life dedicated to developing virtue by denying himself many of life’s comforts such as clothes made of soft cloth, a “normal” diet, and a home. John instead chose to wear uncomfortable clothing of itchy camel hair, ate locusts (yuck!) and honey, and lived in the desert. 

John’s holy boldness set him apart from others. His role as a “baptizer” pointed all who encountered Him to Jesus and His Holy Church. Baptism is necessary to enter the Church and to spend eternity in heaven with God! John’s story reminds us how important it is to invite all those we encounter into our beautiful Church.