Nativity of Saint John the Baptist – Metropolitan of Strumica Nahum
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I would like to share a few thoughts with you on the occasion of the birth of Saint John the Baptist, as always – in accordance with my duty, not according to my worthiness; and with tears in the sinful soul of mine, to which the testimony of our Lord, the God-Man Jesus Christ, leads me only, Who says about His Forerunner:
“Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist. (Matthew 11, 11) Neither is it possible someone else to appear now, or in the future.
The complete history together with all the events, before and during the birth of Saint John the Baptist, are an icon of the first stage of spiritual development – purification of the heart from passions, as well as being an icon of the transition from the first to the second stage of spiritual development – the manifestation of the grace of the Baptism from the heart and the gift of the prayer of the mind in the heart, which the Holy Fathers of the Church defined with one term, and that is – enlightenment of the mind. Transition from the Old Testament to the New Testament. Transition from an unnatural to a natural way of life.
Observe what the Holy Spirit the Lord testifies about John’s parents, his father – the priest Zacharias, and his mother Elizabeth, in the Holy Gospel:
And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. They had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well advanced in years. (Luke 1, 6-7)
This is exactly what we must follow and remember: “walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless”. Remember especially this – “blameless”.
What does this struggle of theirs show us? It shows us that in spite of their great and unfulfilled desire for which they prayed to God (“for your prayer has been heard” – a testimony that they had asked for it), they did not abandon their struggle before God, although both were already old, and even though they had lost hope in the fulfilment of their wish. This is seen in the words of Zacharias, addressed to the Archangel Gabriel: “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.” (Luke 1, 18)
Their struggle shows us their relationship to God – as a relationship of children of God, free and loving. It is fruitless to keep the law itself, of itself or for its own sake, or because of having a slave like, and/or, hiree like relationship with God. We fulfil the commandments of God for the sake of God, seeking just Him and only Him, and not for the sake of His gifts. Zacharias and Elizabeth act according to all the commandments and ordinances of God – without making any mistake, as children of God, but in the end – also, the gift is God’s only:
Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.
But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall name him John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” (Luke 1, 11-17)
The second stage of spiritual development – the enlightenment of the mind, is the inner spiritual capacity (aptitude) of the Holy Mystery Priesthood. The birth of Saint John the Baptist is the beginning of the transition between the Old Testament and the New Testament Priesthood, a transition that, through God’s Dispensation of our salvation, ends with Holy Pentecost.
Saint John the Baptist is both an icon and the announcer of the mystery of the New Testament and eschatological Priesthood, and the end of the Old Testament Priesthood:
And John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptised by You, and You are coming to me?” (Matthew 3, 14). These are the words, which precisely mean this:
“But make me, Your unworthy and sinful servant, worthy to offer these Gifts to You, [take heed!] For You are the One Who offers and is offered, the One Who is received and is distributed (given), Oh, Christ our God … ”
There is still much to be written about this Gospel reading, on the occasion of the birth of the prophet of God, John, and about the Mystery of the Royal Priesthood, which is the only thing that remains in the Kingdom of Heaven, and is its manifestation in this world and age. However, it might be better in the future if everything else is revealed through the personal struggle of repentance and weeping, which, according to the work of the prophet, is also a preparation of the way for the coming and meeting with our Lord – the God-Man Jesus Christ.
And one more thing. What do we see today on the church iconostas – an icon of the Kingdom of Heaven: Who sits on the right and on the left side of Christ? Not even any of the Apostles – even if he was either Peter or Paul, not a Holy Bishop (Hierarch), that is, there is not a representative of the external Priesthood seated; no one else is seated, but the first and perfect bearers of the inner, true New Testament, Eschatological (eternal) and Royal Priesthood – the Most Holy Theotokos and Ever Virgin Mary and Saint John the Baptist.
Only through the bearers of this Priesthood in the Church, and through them in the world and in its history, works the only ceaseless Liturgy, that is, the Father’s Dispensation of our salvation, through the Son in the Holy Spirit – the Lord. Which means that the functioning of the official Priesthood (It is as it is) is thanks to the existence of the bearers of the eschatological, royal and internal Priesthood.
I, at least, do not want to comment on some difference regarding their honour, as I see a difference in obedience, between the first and the second (right side) place, because Christ is sitting in Her lap; but between the second ( Theotokos) and third (first on the left of Christ – Saint John the Baptist) I see that the second is greater in honour than the Cherubim and incomparably more glorious than the Seraphim. Although with what is written it is possible to offend some of the readers, I’m sure that I will not offend anyone of the aforementioned (The Mother of God – Theotokos and Saint John the Baptist) – on the contrary. And the fourth place is still open …
But, this thing: “It does not depend on Me but on those for which it is prepared.” (Matthew 20, 23)
This means that the Lord gives us the opportunity to build a perfect personal relationship with Him, but this depends on how much one wants to open themself before God and how much one wants to give himself to God. In other words, it depends on us, what kind of relationship we want to build with God: whether Father-son, hiree, or slave like relationship. There is no predestination. It all depends on us.
Perhaps you did not notice, for almost the same question to the angel, Zacharias was punished, yet it was explained to the Theotokos. Simply, She asked, not out of ignorance or unbelief, but for our instruction – I have explained that; however, there was a little doubt that Zacharias had. But when the righteous, with humility and gratitude, undergoes penance – for the unintentional mistake, he may also receive a prophetic gift:
Now Zacharias, his father, was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying:
“Blessed is the Lord God of Israel,
For He has visited and redeemed His people,
“Blessed is the Lord God of Israel,
For He has visited and redeemed His people,
“And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest;
For you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways,
To give knowledge of salvation to His people
By the remission of their sins,
Through the tender mercy of our God,
With which the Dawn from on high has visited us;
To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death,
To guide our feet upon the path of peace.”
So the child grew and became strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his manifestation to Israel. (Luke 1, 67-68; 76-80)
Saint John, Forerunner and Baptist of the Lord, pray to God for us!
Metropolitan of Strumica Nahum
(07/06/2022 16:19)
