The Sunday nearest the longest day of the year is dedicated to John the Baptist. That Sunday is today, June 24, 2012.
Why is that calendar date dedicated toJohn the Baptist, last of the prophets? His coming to earth, announcing and baptizing Jesus, was what brought an end to the Old Testament. We may consider that the six months of the year preceding him symbolize the first half of The Creation Program, ending in the longest day. Now, the final six months symbolize the time that is left for The Creation Program to run, towards the shortest day and the end of the year.
When did The Creation Program begin to run?
The Creation Program, concerning Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all those who would be saved may reasonably be said to have begun with the Covenant that God made with Abraham. That’s when the count-down to Jesus began, about 2,000 B.C. John the Baptist came two thousand years after Abraham and two thousand years before now. John the Baptist may be seen as far more than the midpoint of any given year.
We may see John the Baptist as midpoint of history and indication of its end.
The symbolism is clear. He is announcing to us that The Creation Program may be about to run its appointed course. It is, of course, running out for each of us individual human programs. And, The Creation Program may be winding down for all within it.
If we knew of a coming catastrophe, we would to check the validity of our insurance policies. In light of the clear allegory provided by The Church’s placement of John the Baptist at the calendar’s longest day, and a reminder of the nearness of our own program to Judgment, we may wish to ask The Loving Programmer to forgive us for the errors we committed while in The Program.