Gospel
Luke 1:57-66,80
'His name is John'
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 shown her so great a kindness, they shared her joy.
Now 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. All their neighbours were filled with awe and the whole affair was talked about throughout the hill country of Judaea. All those who heard of it treasured it in their hearts. ‘What will this child turn out to be?’ they wondered. And indeed the hand of the Lord was with him.
Meanwhile the child grew up and his spirit matured. And he lived out in the wilderness until the day he appeared openly to Israel.
Reflection
Why was John the Baptist not name little Zach? As we read the text we would have realised John was never destined to take over his father's place as a priest. Instead he was destined to be the front runner for Christ. He was in solitude in the desert during his formative years. Finally he was out to tell men and women to repent for the kingdom of God is at hand. Can we be like John when God comes calling?
Let us pray
Lord Jesus John the Baptist became your front runner when you come calling. Let us answer your call by answering your call before your second coming.
Amen
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