Rather than making the feast more commercialised, it should be celebrated in true spirit, understanding the significance and the underlying meaning of this celebration
Sao Joao is a joyous festival celebrated by Catholics all over Goa to commemorate the nativity of St John the Baptist. The Catholic Church honours and celebrates the feast by reflecting on his unique role as the forerunner of Jesus Christ. He is recognised as the first witness to the New Testament who preached the baptism of repentance by water and spoke about the imminent coming of Jesus Christ.
People of all ages gather to celebrate the feast with full gusto and enthusiasm. The occasion includes revellers sporting crowns made of fruits, flowers and leaves, and the major highlight of the feast is the water bodies such as wells and ponds in which the revellers take the “leap of joy”. And not forgetting the excitement of executing traditional recipes to perfection quietly adds to the spirit of Sao Joao.
Rather than making the feast more commercialised, it should be celebrated in true spirit, understanding the significance and the underlying meaning of this celebration.
Some of the reflections we can ponder about and implement in our lives.
Higher Calling
St John the Baptist was set apart. He had a role assigned to prepare people for the coming of the Messiah i.e. Jesus Christ. Even before St John was born, God had a special plan for his life. We all need to realise that God has a special plan for our lives too. He has a plan and purpose for our life with the main purpose being that we come to know Jesus as our Saviour and we are then set apart to share the Good News of the Gospel with others.
Be Courageous
There’s no doubt that standing for the truth can bring you into trouble. St John wasn’t afraid to speak the truth even when the cost was high. The decision to call out Herod for his sins put John in prison (and would eventually cost him his life). There are times when it’s important and appropriate for us to speak up. And while we typically won’t be locked up for our honesty, there are other consequences to face. Sometimes it’s important to speak up anyway.
In Humility
When St John the Baptist said, “He must increase, I must decrease”, he meant to say that his own will, desires, ambitions, hopes, etc. must dissolve as Jesus takes over. It means that all selfishness must be abandoned and selfless living must be the founding principle of our lives. To “decrease” before God means we become humble. Humility is a way of giving up everything not of God and allowing only God to shine through. Our call isn’t to be centre stage but to use our gifts and strengths to allow the goodness, skills and talents of others to shine brighter.
Be Result-oriented
St John warned that “Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire”. He compared people to fruit trees. The point of comparison is that trees can be recognised by their fruit, so people can be recognised by their lives and work. Their outer behaviour shows what is in their hearts. A fruit tree bearing bad fruit is useless. It is chopped down and used as firewood. St John stressed how important it is to produce good fruit, and thus to have a pure and repentant heart.
