Why God Allowed St. John the Baptist to Die

About this sermon

He Must Increase, I Must Decrease | St. John the Baptist Why would God allow St. John the Baptist, the Forerunner of Christ, to suffer such a violent death? This homily reflects on the martyrdom of St. John and the life that prepared him to face it. John lived in the truth. His preaching exposed sin, called people to repentance, and prepared the way for Jesus Christ. Those who desired conversion responded to his message—but those who rejected repentance tried to silence the man who awakened their consciences. Yet prison did not change St. John. Whether he stood beside the Jordan preaching repentance or sat alone in a dark cell, his interior disposition remained the same: he remained with God. The sermon explains St. John’s ascetic life—not as an attempt to earn God’s grace, but as spiritual training. Through prayer, fasting, simplicity, and self-denial, he fought the passions that could divide his heart from God. His mission can be summarized in one sentence: “He must increase, but I must decrease.” That same purification is asked of us. If we want Christ to increase in our lives, we must remove what scatters our hearts, repent sincerely, simplify our lives, pray, fast, and learn to remain with God even in suffering. St. John’s death was not defeat. It became a crown of victory and the beginning of a greater life with Christ. St. John the Baptist, intercede for us. 00:00 Glory to Jesus Christ 00:10 Why Did God Allow St. John to Die? 00:25 The Last of the Old Testament Prophets 00:34 St. John Lived in Truth 00:42 His Preaching Exposed Sin 00:55 The Baptism of Repentance 01:02 Those Who Rejected His Call 01:19 St. John Is Imprisoned 01:33 He Remained With Christ 01:42 What Asceticism Really Means 01:57 Can We Earn God’s Grace? 02:16 Conquering the Passions 02:32 Prayer, Fasting & Simplicity 02:45 Remaining Present With God 02:52 From the Jordan to the Prison Cell 03:05 He Remained 03:07 Death Becomes a Crown of Victory 03:21 Repent and Live in the Truth 03:30 Remove What Divides the Heart 03:46 “He Must Increase, I Must Decrease” 03:59 Our Own Purification 04:19 Simplicity, Fasting & Prayer 04:28 Remaining With God in Trials 04:37 Battling the Evil of Our Age 04:48 Be Present During the Liturgy 04:55 Ask St. John’s Intercession 05:18 Sponsor Message 05:26 Sensus Fidelium App For more please visit https://lifegivingspringspodcast.podbean.com/ & remember to say 3 Hail Marys for the priest. 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 ✝️ SUPPORT THE MISSION 🙏 Donate https://sensusfidelium.com/donate-support/ 📬 Free Catholic Newsletter https://sensusfidelium.com/newsletter/ 📰 Read on Substack https://sensusfidelium.substack.com/ ──────────────────── 📺 WATCH & READ 📺 Sensus Fidelium App https://sensusfidelium.tv/ 📚 Sensus Fidelium Press https://sensusfideliumpress.com/ 👕 Official Merchandise https://sensusfidelium.com/merchandise/ ──────────────────── 🤝 PARTNER WITH US 📣 Advertise on Sensus Fidelium https://sensusfidelium.com/advertise-with-sensus-fidelium/ 🎤 Invite Steve Cunningham to Speak https://sensusfidelium.com/speaking/ ⛪ Parish Formation & Consultation https://sensusfidelium.com/for-parishes/ ──────────────────── 🌎 CATHOLIC COMMUNITY ✝️ Trusted Catholic Businesses https://sensusfidelium.com/catholic-businesses/ 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 #StJohnTheBaptist #JohnTheBaptist #BeheadingOfJohnTheBaptist #HeMustIncrease #Repentance #PrayerAndFasting #Asceticism #ChristianMartyr #CatholicHomily #ByzantineCatholic #EasternCatholic #ChristianLife #SensusFidelium

Topics

• Heaven & Eternity