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John the baptist









June 24

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

- This passage calls us to more than words or appearances. True discipleship is proven by obedience to Jesus’ teaching, not by saying “Lord, Lord” alone. A life built on listening to Jesus and putting his words into practice stands firm when life’s storms come, while a life built on sand collapses under pressure. The invitation is to align our actions with God’s will, trusting that Jesus knows and steers us as we follow him.

Question for reflection

- In what area of your life is your faith most tested right now, and how can you move from listening to Jesus’ words to actively living them this week?

Prayer

- Gracious God, help me to hear your words with a open heart and to act on them with courage. Root my life in your truth so that, when storms come, I stand firm on the rock of Christ. Teach me to do your will not out of duty alone, but out of love for you and for others. Amen.

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