To read the texts click on the texts: Mal3:1-4, 23-24; Lk 1:57-66
Two days before the birth of the Messiah, the Church
invites us to reflect on the birth, naming, and circumcision of his precursor
or forerunner, John the Baptist.
Luke does not give us too many details about the
birth of John, and he narrates it with a short sentence. He focuses more on the
events that follow the birth and, through them, show that God’s word spoken
through the angel, Gabriel, is being fulfilled. Elizabeth does bear a son and
the people rejoice at the birth because of the great mercy shown by God.
Circumcision of the child on the eight day was in
accord with Gen 17:9-14 where God makes circumcision on the eight day a sign of
the covenant with Abraham. It was the father who normally named the child and,
in doing so, recognized the child as his own. Sometimes, the child was named
after the father, especially if the father was a person who was highly
esteemed. Objections were raised to the name “John” (“God had been gracious”),
chosen by Elizabeth. That the people made signs to Zechariah to ask him what he
wanted to name the child indicates that, besides being dumb, he was also deaf.
The moment Zechariah writes the name “John” on a writing tablet, Zechariah
regains his speech. Once again, God’s word comes to pass. The fear and
amazement with which the people respond to these happenings is an indication
that they experienced God’s awesome power. The question that the people ask,
about what the child would turn out to be, is answered in summary form by Luke
when he ends this narrative by stating that “the hand of the Lord was with
him.”
God’s word is a word of power and will come to pass,
no matter how many obstacles we may put in its way. It is a word that enhances
and builds up, a word that gives life. To be sure, we may not always be able to
understand and accept it for what it is, but in the final analysis, it is
always a word that is for our good and for his glory.
your have a nice info and i like your post ^___^
ReplyDelete