This day, we observe the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist, the only birthday the Church celebrates other than the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the Nativity of Jesus Christ, Christmas.

Jesus Christ, Son of God, our Lord and Saviour, praised John’s birth: ‘Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist’ (Matthew 11:11).

John the Baptist, forerunner for Christ, constantly bore witness to the Truth. He called out the ruler of his day, King Herod, for Herod’s scandals and an adulterous relationship.

We hear Herod was afraid of John for speaking the Truth (Mark 6:20).

Under pressure, Herod tries to silence Truth by imprisoning and then killing John.

Ultimately Truth wins out. Truth cannot be concealed, all will be revealed, all will be known (Matthew 10:26; 2 Peter 3:10).

After Herod was deposed, that king could no longer make anyone celebrate his scandals or his birthday.

We observe the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist’s fearless witness to the Truth, to this day.