Feast: Nativity of St John the Baptist: Saturday 24th June, 2023 June 24, 2023
Reflection on the WORD
John the Baptist – Faith: Today’s Gospel gives an account of the events concerning the Birth of John the Baptist. God’s Plan of Salvation is clearly revealed in John’s special birth; to prepare for the Coming of the Messiah. Ponder on: God also wishes to use us to draw people closer to Him, through our daily witness of His Gospel Truth and Love.
Luke 1:57-64, 80
The time came for Elizabeth to have her child, and she gave birth to a son; and when her neighbours and relations heard that the Lord had lavished on her his faithful love, they shared her joy.
Now it happened that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; they were going to call him Zechariah after his father, but his mother spoke up. ‘No,’ she said, ‘he is to be called John.’ They said to her, ‘But no one in your family has that name,’ and made signs to his father to find out what he wanted him called. The father asked for a writing-tablet and wrote, ‘His name is John.’ And they were all astonished. At that instant his power of speech returned and he spoke and praised God.
Meanwhile the child grew up and his spirit grew strong. And he lived in the desert until the day he appeared openly to Israel.
Today's Pointers on God's Word
As you read the passage what words, phases or meanings caught your attention?
- Elizabeth remembered the Lord’s message to name her son John. Indeed, this allows us to see that she never forgets the goodness of our Lord, and does all that He commands her to do
- Likewise, Zechariah, though initially doubtful of the Angel’s message, believed in God’s goodness in naming his son John.
- God will never forsake those who plead for forgiveness and change their ways for the better like Zechariah. We too need to realize that no matter how badly we have sinned, it is never too late to turn to God as long as we have a sincere desire to do so.