In the codex of St. Dalmatius, so often praised by us, this sermon bears the name of St. Maximus with the title 'Likewise, also concerning St. John the Baptist, Homily III.' Celebrating today, dearest brethren, the birthday of St. John the Baptist, let us exult and rejoice in the Lord that a man born in the old Law was illustrious in lineage, wondrous in nativity, and most glorious in life and in death. For he is that forerunner John who saluted the Savior of the world by leaping — while still hidden in his mother's womb, being himself also enclosed in his mother's bosom — and by his leaps announced Him present. But born, and hiding among the dark places of the desert, he gloriously proclaims Him, boldly preaches to the peoples coming to him, confidently points Him out.
This is that most illustrious Baptist of Christ who so stirs up with such zeal the throngs of peoples coming to him, that he tolerated neither the pride of the Pharisees, nor the ignorance of the scribes in the Law of the Lord, nor of all the vices by which that faithless nation refused to declare itself. Neither the threats of impious kings, nor the many comforts of a luxuriating court, nor the pride of the priestly class, could hinder him from speaking the truth. Truly therefore Christ the Lord said that he was more than a prophet. For being born beyond the common nativity of men, a holy supplication indeed created him, and not pleasure.
For when the friendly inward parts of the maternal womb had grown cold, and the wearied members of the body no longer promised any grace of fruitfulness, against the impossibility of an aged body and the sterility of the inward parts, at Zechariah's prayers Elizabeth's womb swelled. John is conceived in a most aged womb; to the father is granted offspring which he had never had. Elizabeth's womb, however, is emptied, and she gladly marvels to be a mother. Zechariah exults in joy;
and when there was a contention among the neighbors about the boy's name, while the father fixed his stylus on the tablets to write, according to his choice, the name of the newborn boy — which he could not express by speech — he suddenly loosed his tongue into voice, and outstripped the letters with speech, and him whom he wished to write down with the stylus as John, he testifies by speaking. What wonder, then, if Christ proclaims him more than a prophet? For which of the prophets, by being born, restored voice and priest to the people? Therefore no wonder if afterward he said of himself: 'I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness' (Luke 3) — that is, not a voice only that can penetrate the ears of hearers, but of one crying, which indeed shakes the hearts of hearers and leads them into the way of salvation.
This voice indeed even now proclaims to all. And also to you, brethren, it always announces, through our lowliness, what things are to be done and what to be shunned: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight His paths' (ibid.). Therefore we are commanded to prepare the way for the Lord, by the purity indeed of our faith, whereby we may oppose not only the vain and superstitious fabrications of idols, but also detest and correct them in our brethren. By the chastity too of the mind itself, whereby we may have mercy on our brethren, restoring to all what is theirs, opposing none, correcting the erring, and finally doing good to each, as far as lies in us.
Therefore, according to the admonitions of the venerable Baptist, let us always live, ever imploring God that He may grant us to keep a happy perseverance in good works. Here it ends.