June: Day 24: Teaching 1: The Nativity of Saint John the Baptist

June: Day 24: Teaching 1:
The Nativity of Saint John the Baptist

(Good and Pious Children Are the Fruit of the Fervent Prayers of Their Parents)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. The nativity of the great Forerunner of the Lord is very remarkable for the fact that his birth itself was unusual and miraculous, that it was the fruit of the fervent, lifelong prayers of his parents, the reward of their faith and hope, their righteousness and piety, their patience and devotion to the will of God.

The holy parents of the Forerunner of the Lord were righteous and pious. Yet, these great righteous figures faced a temptation that was more unfortunate than any affliction recorded in the Old Testament Church. "They had no children" from the beginning of their married life until old age, which at that time was considered a clear indication of God's disfavor and seemingly an act of rejection by God. One can imagine, dear brethren, how fervent were the prayers of these pious spouses, who, despite their diligence in following God's law and their earnest efforts to "walk in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly," found themselves deprived of God's blessing; so, all these prayers seemingly went unheard. But in heaven, all their prayers were heard, all their sighs and tears were counted; there was prepared for them such a reward that abundantly fulfilled their long-standing deprivation. To them, in their old age, when they themselves had ceased to hope, they were granted such a son, "one greater than He has not risen among those born of women," whose birth was a cause of universal joy, whose life was a wonder to the holy angels, an object of reverence to the entire people of Israel, who was sent by God to prepare the way for the coming Redeemer of the world. A righteous reward for long-standing, lifelong patience and hope!

II. Should not the same be said, brethren, of all the children of parents' prayers, who are the fruit not so much of natural procreation as of the power of God, accomplished in the very weaknesses of man - the fruit of the grace of the Spirit of God, dwelling in the hearts of pious and reverent parents? Asked of the Lord by the fervent prayers of their parents, sanctified at the very conception by the blessing of God, inspired by the spirit of faith and trust in the Lord even from the womb of their pious mothers, growing under the life-giving inspiration of living examples of piety in the persons of their parents, they become truly great in faith and piety, the joy and consolation not only of their parents, but also of all those around them, an adornment of society and of the Church of God itself.

a) Isaac - the son of prayer. A meek, gentle, obedient child, devoted to God from his youth to the point of being ready to be sacrificed to Him; a reverent, peaceful man, devoted to the will of God; a clairvoyant elder, reverent before the destinies of God in the fate of his children revealed to him. For this reason it was said to his great father: "In Isaac shall your seed be called."

b) Samuel - the son of prayer. From his youth a servant of God, raised at the Tabernacle of Meeting, before the face of the God of Israel, an example of childhood and youthful virtues; in the years of manhood and old age - a great prophet of God, a judge and leader of the people of Israel, a nursemaid of kings, who anointed them to the kingdom. The Lord Himself consoled him, as a friend and secret keeper of His judgments, in his great and holy sorrow for the unworthy king Saul, who transgressed the will of God.

c) Saint John the Baptist - the son of prayer. From infancy a hermit, a great preacher of repentance and the approach of the Kingdom of God, in the flesh an angel and the foundation of the prophets, the Forerunner and Baptist of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. "One greater than He has not risen among those born of women," as the Lord Himself testified about him.

d) The Most Holy Mother of God herself, the most pure and most blessed Virgin Mary, who became the ark of the Divinity, the receptacle of the Incomprehensible, the Mother of the Son of God, more honorable than the cherubim and more glorious than the seraphim, this branch of the paradise tree of life, this adornment of the angelic world, was the daughter of the most ardent, lifelong prayers of her holy parents.

e) Is it necessary to mention other examples of the greatness and glory of the sons and daughters of the prayers of their parents? Is it necessary to count the names of famous saints, great ascetics, wonderful confessors and martyrs, who were the fruit of God's blessing, for the sake of the piety and day-night prayers of their parents. This fruit of heavenly blessing always blossoms among people with heavenly beauty of soul and heart. And who knows how many children not of carnal lust, but of the prayers of parents live among us, distinguished by qualities of mind and heart, not occupied with the world and the flesh?

III. All of this serves as a great lesson for spouses, especially those without children, or for those who are unhappy despite having many. The title of parent is high and sacred: it derives from the one "Father of all, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named." With reverent attention, spouses should contemplate their future state as parents; with the warmth of a heart devoted to God, they "ought to implore the Lord to sanctify the fruit of their womb with His heavenly blessing." Good children are their glory and praise among men, their high merit before the Lord; wicked children are their disgrace before people, their heavy guilt before God. However, this primarily depends on themselves. "The generation of the righteous will be blessed," says the word of God. Therefore, "their comfort in life depends on their piety and prayer in raising good and pious children," while "from negligence and frivolity comes severe punishment in raising evil and corrupted children." Thus, before birth, at birth, and after birth, they must pray and supplicate for their children. Amen.

Source: A Complete Annual Cycle of Short Teachings, Composed for Each Day of the Year. Translated by John Sanidopoulos.