"What will this child be?"
For they understand that the hand of the Lord was with him.
Dear Friend,
The Gospel this Sunday according to Luke (1:57-66,80) precedes the second set of Gospel readings in Ordinary Time. Wonder with us for the significance of John the Baptist to these readings and its teachings.
Read this Sunday's Gospel to your family and know the person who would proclaim to the
people the coming of the Messiah, as to know the message is to know the person who is bringing the message. You may want to read also the announcement of his birth (Luke 1:5-25).
His parents, Zechariah and Elizabeth, belonged to a priestly family. They were both very old, beyond the age of bearing a child. But they never gave up hope, prayed to the Lord and served Him well.
The Lord heard him. The angel Gabriel came to tell him of a son whom Elizabeth would bear and to be named as John. Zechariah could not believe and would not be able to speak till that day would come.
Imagine the joy of these would-be parents when Elizabeth became pregnant.
Zechariah regained his speech when he followed the angel Gabriel and named his son, John.
Their neighbors and the people around the Hills of Judah talked about this child and pondered "What will this child be?" For they understand that the hand of the Lord was with him.
He was from a priestly family. By tradition, he would be at the service of the Lord. Clearly, John was a gift of the Lord to Zechariah and Elizabeth who served the Lord well.
As John was growing up, the Holy Spirit was with him. He stayed in the desert until he was ready to proclaim to the people the Messiah who is to come.
Prayer and Reflection ~
John was to proclaim the coming of the Messiah. The people must believe in him. His father, Zechariah doubted the angel Gabriel when he announced that his wife would bear a son and he became dumb until the promise was fulfilled.
John should never have this same doubt about the leadings of the Holy Spirit. He followed Him to the desert to prepare himself for his mission.
There will be leadings by the Holy Spirit in the days to come for me.
I should be open to Him and have no doubts.
I should prepare myself for my own mission by going to my own "desert" where I shall leave my fate to the grace of the Lord, as Zechariah and Elizabeth, and their son did.
I can only do this if I know how to listen to the Holy Spirit, in prayer.
This will prepare me for His teachings, that I may have life, abundant in His grace.
Joe & Charito
THE CATHOLIC ARCHDIOCESE OF MANILA'S
ONLINE RESOURCE FOR FAMILY MINISTRIES
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