The Feast of Saint John the Baptist, A Homily

John, born in darkness

bore witness to the light

 

A faint spark in the deep night

 

He saw the light and felt its warmth

            preaching by the river

eating honey in the wild 

he baptized Jesus

who showed him the way

 

John, man of the desert

herald and prophet

repentant…angelic

 

The way is not in stillness or silence, John taught us

The way is found through service, love and humility

 

John…was comforted by Sophia

Ruha…washed him in living flame

while Salome danced for her father

and the soldiers came for his head

 

John lived by the Jordan

he was not perplexed by his fate

he had turned once toward the divine

and was not tempted to turn away  

 

From the Gospel According to Mark