The Glory of St. John the Baptist

In offering his correction, John showed the greatest charity, his ardent zeal for God’s honor, and a burning and flaming desire for the salvation of souls. The Lord says, accordingly, that John was a burning and shining lamp. He burned like a fire and shone like the sun. However, the light of this sun hurt the diseased eyes of this adulterous king and blinded him. He could not tolerate such a bright light…. And thus was killed this most holy man John, an angel among men, the greatest prophet among the angels, sanctified even before he was born, a man whom the world was not worthy of. Thus was slain today John, a man more innocent than Abel, holier than Enoch, more perfect than Noah, more righteous than the patriarchs, dearer to God than the prophets, most like to Christ, foretold by the prophets, a voice of one crying out in the desert….

We must not think that John died at the hands of evildoers outside the plans of God’s eternal dispensation and providence. Rather, he underwent such a death on earth that he might merit a most blessed and eternal life in heaven, crowned with every glory and honor…. God willed to humble John even by the most ignominious death that he might exalt him in heaven above the glory of all the angels. John was killed on the birthday of a king, because even though he died today on earth, he was born in heaven to eternal life and the highest honor in the heavenly kingdom. He died at the hour of a royal banquet, but his head was lifted on high to the royal banquet, for his soul penetrated the heavens to be seated at the eternal delights of the heavenly banquet in the Paradise of the glory of the great God. He died in a prison so that, like another Joseph, he might emerge from his prison walls to the highest and first
honors in the heavenly kingdom, as Joseph was freed from his prison cell and made the ruler over the entire land of Egypt (cf. Gn 41:14-24). John passed from darkness to eternal light, from a place of evil to a place of divine holiness, from the prison of criminals to the Paradise of the angels.