Every year on June 24th, we celebrate the birth of Saint John the Baptist. This is a very special day because apart from Jesus and Mary, John is the only other person whose birth we honor with a feast. That’s because John had a very important job, to prepare the people for the coming of Jesus.
John’s story began with a miracle. His parents, Zechariah and Elizabeth, were very old and had no children. One day, while Zechariah was praying in the temple, the angel Gabriel appeared and said, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John” (Luke 1:13). Zechariah found this hard to believe, and because of his doubt, he lost his voice until the baby was born.
When the baby was born, everyone expected he would be named after his father. But Elizabeth said, “No! He is to be called John” (Luke 1:60). Zechariah confirmed it in writing, and immediately, he could speak again. He praised God with a beautiful prayer, saying, “And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him” (Luke 1:76).
John’s birth is celebrated six months before Christmas, because he was born about six months before Jesus. This timing is also symbolic. After June 24th, the days begin to grow shorter, just like John once said, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30). And when Jesus is born in December, the light begins to grow again.
John spent his life helping people turn their hearts back to God. He lived simply, wore camel’s hair, and ate wild honey and locusts. People came from all around to hear him preach and to be baptized in the Jordan River. He always reminded them that someone greater was coming. When he saw Jesus, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29).
The birth of John the Baptist is also celebrated joyfully through the vibrant Sao Joao festival. This unique tradition includes people wearing colorful floral crowns, singing folk songs, and jumping into wells, ponds, and streams. The joyful plunges into water recall the moment when John leapt with joy in his mother Elizabeth’s womb at the visit of Mary (Luke 1:41–44), and also remind us of John’s role in baptizing people in the Jordan River.
The birth of John the Baptist teaches us that every life is a gift and has a purpose. God had a special plan for John even before he was born, and He has a plan for each of us too. Like John, we can help others find Jesus through our words, our kindness, and the way we live. Let us thank God for John the Baptist and ask for his help to be brave, humble, and faithful, just like he was. And as we celebrate Sao Joao, may our hearts leap with joy in the presence of the Lord!
– Ashodi Ferro