The Self-Effacing Character of John the Baptist

Homily for the Solemnity of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist

The description of John the Baptist in all four Gospels can be summed up in one word: self-effacing. Being humble means having a modest view of your own importance. A humble person recognizes their strengths but doesn’t brag or seek special treatment. It’s more about quiet confidence and grounded self-awareness.

Self-effacing, on the other hand, goes a step further. Someone who is self-effacing tends to downplay their achievements or shift focus away from themselves, often to avoid attention. It can sometimes come off as overly modest or even apologetic, depending on the context.

One is a mindset, the other is a behavior.

So, John is the best man and not the bridegroom. He is the herald and not the main event. He is the voice and not the Word. His task is to prepare the way for the Messiah. There is a hidden quality about John that is hinted at in today’s reading from Isaiah: “He made me a polished arrow; in his quiver he hid me.” As the arrow is hidden, so the true identity of John is often hidden as he directs attention away from himself to one whose sandals he is not worthy to untie.

St. Paul reminds us today that John’s task was to call Israel to repentance, symbolized by the ritual baptism he administered. As he grew strong in spirit, he was to be Israel’s conscience, reminding her of God’s salvation and the challenge it placed before her. This he did without fear or favor. Throughout the Gospels we see a prophet who challenges, points out sin, and courageously proclaims the nearness of God’s salvation. Like a sharpened sword, his words strike home, and many would turn their lives back to God.

Even as they rejoiced at his birth, they asked: “What, then, will this child be?” The answer is quite simple. He became what we are called to be. Like John we are called to decrease that Christ might increase within us. Like John our task is to prepare the way for Christ by turning our lives away from all that might separate us from God and block his coming into our hearts. John points the way to Christ and quietly steps out of the way. Our lives, too, must point to Christ and bear witness to his salvation and steadfast love. John’s life burned brightly with the love of Christ; may we allow that same light to burn in our lives and bring others to Christ.