John, Renouncing All

John, renouncing all, left his home. Some believe that John, son of Elizabeth and Zacharias, guru to Jesus of Nazareth, left his home when he was three years old, going to live in the desert wilderness. Can you imagine? Do you know any three year old who would be able to survive on his own?

King Herod was purging the country of all Jewish baby boys, out of fear of a prophecy that his kingdom would be won by a boy born at that time, into a Jewish household. So, since he was a ruthless, unfeeling king, he simply ordered all Jewish boys be murdered.

Wild John

John and Jesus were born within months of each other. Joseph and Mary fled to Egypt with their son, Jesus. John went into the desert, where he lived by himself for about 30 years. John is often depicted as a wild man, hair gnarled and knotted, eyes wide and delirious. It's easy to believe, too, having lived without a mother's watchful eye and ready wash cloth and comb.

For the past few days, our pilgrimage has been immersed in the suffering of Jesus. The stations of the cross. Dear Lord! The agony. My imagination is too vivid to be able to endure that contemplation. The crucifixion. Peter's trio of denials. The cruelty. The despair.

And now today, we come to the story of John the Baptist, focusing on his conception, birth, and solitude. After spending time at the Church of the Visitation, we clambered down a steep path to the cave where John spent much of his life. The site filled his two requirements: a cave for shelter and a spring for water.

An altar inside John's cave.

We jostled and snuggled our way into the cave, all of us just fitting, kneecap to kneecap. We sang and meditated, immersed and contemplated. The air outside was fresh and clean. The camaraderie of devotion inside was deep and profound.

Asha, focusing our meditation on the solitude of John.

John, renouncing all,

Left his home.

Wrapped in solitude,

Far from men's ways.

Roaming across desert sands,

Seeking God's truth.

Long years he spoke only with God,

'Til, silent of soul,

Wisdom did fill the ache of his heart.

Then he did see God alone.