REFLECTIONS TODAY
Today’s Gospel narrates the birth and the naming of John the Baptist. Both Elizabeth and Zechariah want their son to be named John despite the fact that there is no one in their family who is called by this name. When asked by their relatives, the dumb Zechariah writes on a tablet, “John is his name.” We may reflect not only on the name of the child, but also on the names of his parents. The name John means “the Lord is gracious”; Zechariah means “the Lord has remembered”; and Elizabeth means “the promise of my God.”
Hence, the family of Zechariah testify to a profound truth that the Lord, in his time, surely fulfills what he has promised. And when God’s promise is fulfilled, our life could never be anything else but gracious. Do we truly believe that God, in his time, will grant what we are praying for? Do we trust and hold on to God’s promise with the conviction that he has never forgotten us and will never forget us? What are the manifestations that our life has become more gracious now?
FIRST READING • Mal 3:1-4, 23-24
Thus says the Lord God: Lo, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me; and suddenly there will come to the temple the Lord whom you seek, and the messenger of the covenant whom you desire. Yes, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. But who will endure the day of his coming? And who can stand when he appears? For he is like the refiner’s fire, or like the fuller’s lye. He will sit refining and purifying silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi, refining them like gold or like silver that they may offer due sacrifice to the Lord. Then the sacrifice of Judah and Jerusalem will please the Lord, as in the days of old, as in years gone by. Lo, I will send you Elijah, the prophet, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and terrible day, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with doom.
Gospel • Luke 1:57-66
When the time arrived for Elizabeth to have her child she gave birth to a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy toward her, and they rejoiced with her. When they came on the eighth day to circumcise the child, they were going to call him Zechariah after his father, but his mother said in reply, “No. He will be called John.” But they answered her, “There is no one among your relatives who has this name.” So they made signs, asking his father what he wished him to be called. He asked for a tablet and wrote, “John is his name,” and all were amazed. Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed, and he spoke blessing God. Then fear came upon all their neighbors, and all these matters were discussed throughout the hill country of Judea. All who heard these things took them to heart, saying, “What, then, will this child be? For surely the hand of the Lord was with him.”
Source: “365 Days with the Lord 2022,” St. Pauls, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; Fax 632-895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.