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. âNo,â she said âhe is to be called John.â They said to her, âBut no one in your family has that nameâ, and made signs to his father to find out what he wanted him called. The father asked for a writing-tablet and wrote, âHis name is John.â 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. âWhat will this child turn out to be?â 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
What is the role of John the Baptist?As he grew, John felt led to the desert to prepare the way of the Lord. He lived on wild honey and locusts for years, while preparing himself for the mission of preaching the coming of the Messiah. He baptized others and called for repentance of sins, preaching that One greater than him was coming. When Jesus arrived to be baptized by John, he immediately knew that He was the Messiah. Jesus insisted on being baptized by John.The baptism of Christ marks the passing of the button. John was killed after that fighting for righteousness. Are you playing a role asking people to repent ?
Let us pray
Lord Jesus John the Baptist prepared the way and lose fighting for righteousness. Grant we too live an honorable life like John the Baptist.
Amen
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