January: Day 7: Teaching 1: Synaxis of Saint John the Baptist

January: Day 7: Teaching 1:
Synaxis of Saint John the Baptist
 
(Traits to Imitate From the Life of Saint John the Baptist of the Lord)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. At first glance, the life of the Forerunner of the Lord, whose memory is now being celebrated, will seem inimitable in its height and the exceptional nature of his position. But let us look more closely and find that we can imitate this great righteous man and chosen one of God.

II. a) Saint John the Baptist is chosen from his mother's womb. His conception is foretold, his future ministry is predicted, as is the glory that awaits him in the kingdom of grace. Here is the feature that seems farthest from us, which is, however, nearer to us than all others. Do not be surprised if I say that we, Christians, are all chosen from our mother's womb, our destiny and the glory that awaits us are foretold to us. The Apostle Paul says that God chose us in Christ Jesus before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him in love (Eph. 1:4, 11), and through this heirs of eternal life. That we were born of Christian parents and immediately became Christians through baptism, this is the first mercy of God to us – the election of us to be partakers of the grace of Christ and the eternal blessings prepared for us. Here is the likeness of Saint John in election! Let us strive to be like him in the justification of election. He showed himself to be exactly as he was chosen. Let us also show ourselves to be such as we were chosen, to which the Holy Apostle invites: “Be diligent, brethren, for your calling and election is known” (2 Peter 1:10).

b) Saint John the Baptist goes into the desert to be brought up and prepared for his ministry. This is a lesson for you, parents and educators! You will say: do we really need to go into the desert with our children? No, you do not need to go into the desert, but you need to distance yourself from all anti-Christian customs and remove your children from their harmful influence. For Saint John was also removed by God's providence into the desert with the purpose of growing up there in completely new rules and principles without any admixture of the old Jewish customs. A Christian infant receives the seed of a new life of grace in baptism. The spirit of the world and its customs are completely opposed to this life. Remove the newly baptized child from them, so that they, like thorns and thistles, do not suppress the sprout of another life in him. If you arrange it this way, it will be a desert for him. And keep him in it until he becomes stronger and becomes capable of going out to do his duty, keep him under the influence of an eccesiastical and blessed environment, similar to the sprout of life of a child as a Christian. Let him not hear and know other songs, except Christian songs. Let him not see, and then not imagine other faces and forms, except in church. Let him know no other biographies, except the lives of saints; other places of visitation, except the church; other speeches, except those that serve for edification, etc. Having carried out his upbringing in this environment, he then, and having set out to work, will act in no other way than in the same spirit, and so on in accordance with his choice.

c) Exalted to the work, Saint John the Baptist performs it with all zeal, not sparing his life, not with a vain character, not carried away by doubt. This lesson is simple and is fulfilled by everyone, although unwillingly, although, perhaps, not completely perfectly. Having chosen for yourself a kind of life, a business or a service, be careful to act in it conscientiously, in everything as the law of God requires, conscientious, worldly and civil; do not be prevaricate - neither in small nor in great, but go straight. Whether you are a servant - serve as you should; whether an artisan - be an artisan according to conscience; whether you trade - trade according to justice; whether an official - be an official as you are instructed, and so on - in everything having in mind the good of your neighbor and the glory of God. Saint John also points out this, giving his special instructions to various kinds of people. When the people gathered around him and asked what he should do, he answered: "He who has two tunics, let him give to him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise" (Luke 3:11), that is, help one another, as much as you can. The publicans asked him what they should do, and he said to them, and in their person to all who take upon themselves any government service: "Collect no more than what is appointed for you" (Luke 3:13). The soldiers asked, and he commanded them: "Do not intimidate anyone or accuse falsely, and be content with your wages" (Luke 3:14), and so on. True, every position, and every title and service received its lesson from him, as a sign that in each of them there is a way of acting required by God and pleasing to Him.

d) For his impartial denunciation of untruth, Saint John is imprisoned, and there beheaded by the malicious flattery of his wife during a feast and dances that drove everyone mad. For this he is glorified in heaven and celebrated throughout the Christian world on earth, and those responsible for his death are punished here too (they were exiled, where they lived poorly and died miserably), and in another life, of course, they will suffer forever. So, no matter what your rank, condition, way of life, or occupation, do not be afraid when, doing your work conscientiously, you meet with obstacles, sorrows, oppression, losses, and even danger to life. Let malice triumph: there is an all-seeing eye, and there is a righteous reward for each according to his deed. This life is short, and its losses are short; but the other life is endless. To acquire eternal peace by a small and short-term loss - what a glorious price and what an attractive acquisition! "The sufferings of this present time are not worthy of the glory that shall be revealed to us" (Rom. 8:18), says the Apostle. And that those who want to live a godly life are persecuted is the law of this life, in the midst of an unrighteous world. And the Lord suffered, and all the apostles, and all the saints, to a greater or lesser degree. "Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith" (Heb. 12:1:2).

III. Here are the traits to follow from the life of Saint John. Take everything you can and introduce it into your life. Only by this will you show true veneration to the Holy Forerunner and to God Himself, and you will do what is pleasing to Him and what is saving for us. 

Source: A Complete Annual Cycle of Short Teachings, Composed for Each Day of the Year. Translated by John Sanidopoulos.