Today we celebrate the great Solemnity of the Birth of St. John the Baptist. This is a timely feast this year because of what it tells us about old endings and new beginnings. John was the very last predominating figure of the Old Dispensation, the Old Testament, the Time of Preparation for the coming of the Great Messiah: the one who would fulfill all of the prophecies. In a sense his was the "birth of the end!" But "the end" was necessary so that the New Dispensation the New Testament, the Time of Rejoicing in the Arrival and Presence of the Lord Jesus – our Savior and our Friend - could begin.
What I like so much about St. John the Baptist was that he was a very humble man – he knew who he was (the last of the old line), and who he was not (the awaited one). And today he can be a great help for us as we stand on the brink of a period of transition from one dispensation of parish life, to another – not only for one parish, but for six of them. We have been in the past several weeks and months, and are even moreso now, deeply into the birthing process of a brand new parish whose name encompasses all the saints of heaven! What a grand and glorious title to soon call our own!
What is naturally sad at this time is the "endings" involved: the retirements of several priests, the moving on of others, the renaming and redefining of things in a more communal sort of way – which is really quite good, as it is the Gospel way; and it includes the natural apprehensions of the unknown: will this really work out: will we like the new priests: will we all get along as one working parish with six "church" worship sites. Well, it is already working in many places in this diocese and in many other dioceses. Chances are good that it will work here too: but not without our willingness to let go of "the way we were" and to look forward with joyful hope to all of the excitement, joys and benefits of something brand spanking new!
And of course we must always remember that any and every parish, church and worship site – and faith-filled group of people who care for one another and are dedicated to serving the needs of one another and others at large – are but a foretaste of the Great Parish to which we are already members and to which we will all one day migrate to – the one in Heaven: where Jesus himself will be our Pastor, and Shepherd, and there will be – just as he said there would be – One Flock – all of us giving praise and glory to our heavenly Father forever in the Holy Spirit.
St. John the Baptist – Patron of Transitions – help us in the next few weeks to embrace "the happy death of one experience of local church" to fully embrace and love a new one!
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