The Birth of John

Today's Reflections

 

    

The Birth of John 

http://graceandspace.org

Lk 1:57-66

⁵⁷When the time arrived for Elizabeth to have her child she gave birth to a son. ⁵⁸Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy toward her, and they rejoiced with her. ⁵⁹When they came on the eighth day to circumcise the child, they were going to call him Zechariah after his father, ⁶⁰but his mother said in reply, “No. He will be called John.” ⁶¹But they answered her, “There is no one among your relatives who has this name.” ⁶²So they made signs, asking his father what he wished him to be called. ⁶³He asked for a tablet and wrote, “John is his name,” and all were amazed. ⁶⁴Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed, and he spoke blessing God. ⁶⁵Then fear came upon all their neighbors, and all these matters were discussed throughout the hill country of Judea. ⁶⁶All who heard these things took them to heart, saying, “What, then, will this child be?” For surely the hand of the Lord was with him.

Reflection:

They rejoiced with her. John is the precursor (the one who runs before) of Jesus. John’s birth is a cause of great joy to his parents and to their neighbors, just as the birth of Jesus will bring great joy not only to his parents but to all the people. The child’s name is John, which means, “God is gracious,” already foretelling the graciousness of God that will be shown through Jesus not only to a family but to the whole humankind.

Yes, God is gracious, and God’s graciousness should be seen in every human being born into this world. Every human life is a gift of God, and a child is the supreme gift of God in marriage. In the Philippines, many now tend to see in each child a burden more than a gift. A child is first of all a gift, who must be received with gratitude and cared for with love.

Thank the Lord for each child in your family,

as a sign of God’s graciousness to you

and your family.