Gospel: Luke
1:57-66, 80
57 Now
the time came for Elizabeth to be delivered, and she gave birth to a son. 58
And her neighbors and kinsfolk heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to
her, and they rejoiced with her. 59 And on the eighth day they came to
circumcise the child; and they would have named him Zechariah after his father,
60 but his mother said, "Not so; he shall be called John." 61 And
they said to her, "None of your kindred is called by this name." 62
And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he would have him called. 63
And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, "His name is John." And
they all marveled. 64 And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue
loosed, and he spoke, blessing God. 65 And fear came on all their neighbors.
And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea;
66 and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, "What then
will this child be?" For the hand of the Lord was with him. 80 And the
child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness till the
day of his manifestation to Israel.
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Reflection:
What does
a new born child brings to a family? It brings unfathomable joy and rejoicing.
This was how the couple Elizabeth and Zechariah felt during that time. The new
born child did not only bring joy to his parents, he also brought healing to
his father Zechariah who had problem with speaking.
Every
newly born child brings to you joy and healing also. Do you properly take care
of this child that is given to you as gift by God? Do you teach this child
about God and your faith? Do you teach this child to be humble and to live
simply? Do you bring this growing child to church for Holy Mass?
What can
we learn from the nativity of Saint John the Baptist? We learn that there is a
reward that awaits for parents who are faithful to the will of God. We learn
that when a child is taught about values of simplicity and humility the child
would grow up to be simple and humble also.
Just like
Jesus, John grew up as a simple and humble man, he grew up faithful to God’s
will for him. We cannot only attribute these virtues of John to God alone. Both
Elizabeth and Zechariah (his parents) played also an important role in
instilling him these virtues of humility and simplicity. Zechariah and
Elizabeth did not only teach John about simplicity and humility. Both of them
lived humility and simplicity also.
Do you
teach your child how to be humble and simple and do you live the virtues of
humility and simplicity? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
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