The Two Most Important Days in Your Life Are… (Luke 1:57-66)

Mark Twain once said, “The two most important days in your life are the day you were born … and the day you know why.”

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Looking back at my time here at Mount Virgin, I’ve grown to understand more of the “why.” I was born to be a parish priest, to minister to God’s people.

I can only begin to tell you how grateful I am for these past two years of ministry. It’s been an immense honor to baptize your children, to celebrate your weddings, to anoint your parents and spouses, and bury your loved ones.

I cannot imagine anything more meaningful in life than this. So from the bottom of my heart, I thank you for being open, for welcoming me into your lives, allowing me to be your servant – and, in many cases, your friend.

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“The two most important days in your life are the day you were born and the day you know why.”

Today we celebrate the first of these two days for John the Baptist. We rejoice at his birth, knowing that he will eventually lead thousands of people to Jesus. That is why he was here.

But John reminds us that we all have a destiny, a path marked out for us from our mother’s womb. There is a particular reason why God brought us into this world; we’re unique, called to build up God’s kingdom in different ways.

John was just one builder, one set of hands.

As the Lord says through the prophet Jeremiah, “For I know well the plans I have for you… plans for your welfare, not for evil, to give you a future full of hope… You will find me when you seek me, when you search for me with all of your heart” (Jeremiah 29:11-13).

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Even if we haven’t followed God’s plan to a “t,” even if we’ve made mistakes along the way or followed a path of our own choosing, God is still with us, urging us to start again and follow him.

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“The two most important days – are the day you were born and the day you know why.”

John only came to understand “why” he was born, how he fit into God’s bigger plan, while he was living in the desert. As it says in the Gospel, “The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the desert until the day of his manifestation to Israel” (Luke 1:80).

We might say John remained “hidden” until God called him forth into the light, to begin building up God his kingdom.

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Traditionally, the desert has been seen as a place of isolation, where there is nothing for miles and miles; nothing except you and God.

In fact, some of the very first Christians followed John’s example and moved out of major cities, into the desert alone; like John, they wanted to discern God’s will for their lives without all of the worldly distractions.

We might say these Christians wanted to understand WHY they were here in this world, and how they fit into God’s master plan.

But we all need that – we all need a type of “desert experience,” days or moments when we pray to God alone, asking him to reveal the meaning of our lives and how we fit into his plans.

What, then, is the meaning of my life? Have I found it?

Why am I here?

How am I building up God’s kingdom?

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In my own case, I do that as a parish priest. Thirty-three years ago, while the Lord was knitting me together in my mother’s womb, he was also planting the seed of a calling – a call to love and serve his people.

I’m so glad that call was first spent here, ministering to so many of you.

And in many ways, you’ve equally ministered to me. You’ve washed my feet with your kindness, covered me in prayer, and welcomed me into your homes.

I pray you will be able to do the same for Father Marco as he begins his priestly ministry here next week.

Together, may you continue to build up God’s kingdom, knowing that this young priest still loves you and prays for you.

May God bless you all in the days and years ahead. Amen.