The Nativity of St John the Baptist, Wednesday, June 24, 2026

Reflection on the WORD

Birth of John the Baptist”: Today’s Gospel, proclaimed the event of John the Baptist’s Birth; and his spirit growing in strength. He lived in the desert; and prepared for Jesus’ Coming; in God’s Time and Ways. Ponder on: “God’s Plan of Salvation works through concrete historical events and persons. How is God inspiring us to serve His Plan in our daily living?

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?

  • God’s ways are not our ways; He will bless us in His time and ways when we least expect it; as in the old age of Zechariah and Elizabeth.  This reading reminds us of our need to continue to trust the Lord at all times regardless of how trying our lives may be. 
  • Ponder on the trials of your life and try to sense how God was present to you in spite of the pain that you have to go through, and how you were on the verge of giving up on your hope in God.
  • Spend some moments thanking God for His care and love for you in those trying times. When God asks something of you in return, do you choose to obey Him?