Lesson from John the Baptist: Christ Must Take Center Stage
If there was one lesson from the life of St. John the Baptist, the Order of Malta’s patron saint, it is the humility in accepting that we are not saviors.
This was the message of Rev. Msgr. Esteban “Bong” Lo, Conventual Chaplain ad honorem, during the Order’s celebration of the feast day of St. John the Baptist. The Order of Malta Philippines commemorated the feast day of its spiritual patron by celebrating the Liturgy of the Eucharist last Saturday, June 23, 2018 at the Order’s chapel in Hidalgo St., Quiapo, Manila.
Recalling the day’s gospel about the birth of St. John the Baptist, Msgr. Lo reminded the members that like John the Baptist, all are special because all have been called from birth. Yet, no one is called to be a savior.
“We are merely a lonely voice in the desert. It is Christ that must take center stage,” said Msgr. Lo.
He then challenged the members of the Order who were in attendance to prepare the way of Christ in the context of our families and society through the humble efforts and interventions of the Order of Malta Philippines.
The Knights of the Ancient Order of Malta were also called the Knights of St John because of the Order’s patron saint, St. John the Baptist. In our country, the members of the Philippine Association of the Sovereign Order of Malta has continued the tradition of its forebears by honoring the feast day of its patron saint since its humble beginning in the country in about the year 1950.
