Reflection: Luke 1:57-66,80

The Nativity of John the Baptist – Luke 1:57-66, 80

Today we celebrate the solemn feast of the Nativity of John the Baptist. Naturally the Gospel reading is the story of John’s birth and naming.

Elizabeth had longed for a child for many years. However, it was not to be. Now at an older age, Elizabeth and Zechariah finally received a great gift from God: the gift of their son, John. After John was born, the relatives of Elizabeth and Zechariah gathered to celebrate the birth of their son. What a wondrous gift they had received!

The custom was to circumcise a male child on the 8th day after his birth. When they gathered for this rite, Elizabeth and Zechariah’s family and friends assumed that the child would be named after his father. This was the custom at that time. However, when the family members and neighbors asked what the child’s name would be, Elizabeth responded that he would be named John. Everyone was astounded! Why would this child be named John? None of Zechariah’s nor Elizabeth’s relatives had this name.

It may be helpful to remember that at the very beginning of Luke’s Gospel, Zechariah was in the temple. One day an angel appeared to him. The angel’s message was that his wife, Elizabeth, would bear him a son, even though she was far beyond child-bearing age. Zechariah had difficulty comprehending and accepting this message. After all, he was far advanced in years. Zechariah had the gall to question the angel how this would happen. As a result, the angel struck Zechariah dumb. The angel told him that he would remain silenced until the child was born! And so it was!

When the baby was born, it was a son as the angel had foretold. On the 8th day, Elizabeth and Zechariah took their child to the temple to have him circumcised. Their family and friends asked them what the child’s name would be. Elizabeth immediately replied: “John.” The family was not pleased. The custom was to name a newborn child after a relative. The family members then turned to Zechariah and asked him the same question. Zechariah wrote on a tablet: “His name is John.”

Immediately Zechariah’s speech was restored. His tongue was freed. And he spoke blessing God for the gift of their child. Everyone was confounded by this event. They did not know what to make of it. The friends and neighbors of Elizabeth and John asked: “Who, what will this child be?” They believed that the hand of God was upon this child!

Have you ever been confounded by something that God has done in your life? Take a few moments and ponder that question. How has God surprised you? How has God gifted you? Remember a time in your life when you received a great gift from God that you never expected? What was your response to God’s gift?

Be awake today! God, once again, may gift you with an expected present! When you receive it, be sure to praise and thank God!