Reworking my relationship with John the Baptist

Last updated on: July 5, 2014 at 5:02 pm by Leah Libresco

Reworking my relationship with John the Baptist 2014-07-05T17:02:45-04:00 Leah Libresco

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Since I was on holiday in Ireland, I prorogued picking my next Saint for the month until now, and, this time, I drew a familiar face: John the Baptist.

I knew this saint from before my conversion (unlike poor Blessed Scammacca who I’d never heard of before drawing him from Jen’s generator), and he’s already helped me out once. When I was on College Jeopardy, one of the categories in the first round was “New Testament Places” and I deliberately avoided the column, figuring I knew nothing about the topic.

When we finally started drawing those clues, though, I did manage to be first to the buzzer on “The book of Mark recounts how believers, including Jesus, were baptized in the Jordan River by this man.” (Ok, maybe not the most challenging question).

My family had come to watch the taping, and were probably giggling a little in the audience since, somehow, John the Baptist had entered my household vernacular. I don’t remember whether my brother or I was the one to start it, but, somehow, when my mom would ask us what we wanted for dinner, we would wind up stalling for time by saying “Bring me… bring me the head of John the Baptist!”

It’s probably time to have a slightly less ridiculous set of connections to this prophet. I think drawing him will somehow result in me reading Oscar Wilde’s Salome this month, but any other advice for how to learn from this month’s saint?

One question that seems interesting to me is inspired by this passage from Matthew 16:13-17

Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven.

If Jesus could be mistaken for John returned (or even if people just hoped it might be true) it seems like there’s something to learn about both men by focusing on the roles they played and the way people related to them was different and similar. I just don’t have much of an idea about how to think about that question productively. Anyone know any good writings from the Church Fathers?

You can check out other Saint of the Month posts here.

Spiritual Practice

saint of the month

Previous Post

July 4, 2014

"Piddle Twiddle and Resolve!"

Next Post

July 6, 2014 A Bible for Reading, Not Studying

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category 7 Quick Takes Apologetics Atheism Book Conversion Debate Tactics Debates Epistemology/Philosophy Housekeeping Ideological Turing Test Marriage Morality in Practice Parsing Catholicism Possibly Heretical Radio Reviews/Recommendations Sequence Index Spiritual Practice Uncategorized

Select a Month April 2017 March 2017 January 2017 December 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Which Christian group traditionally avoids military service?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Pentecostals Quakers Evangelicals Methodists