Reflection for December 23, Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Advent: Luke 1:57-66

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."

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Reflection:

What is the reward for our faithfulness to the Lord?

When we remain faithful to Him—especially when we honor the Sacrament of Marriage—we often experience blessings that go far beyond what the world can offer. These blessings may come in the form of peace of mind, a deep sense of purpose, loving and well-formed children, and countless graces that quietly shape our lives.

In our Gospel, we see how fidelity bears fruit. Through their enduring love for one another and their unwavering trust in God, Elizabeth and Zechariah—despite their advanced age—were blessed with a child. This child was named John, in fulfillment of God’s will as revealed through the angel Gabriel. What seemed impossible to human eyes became possible because they remained faithful.

There is always a reward for faithfulness to the Sacrament of Marriage, though it may not always be expressed in worldly terms such as wealth or success. After all, what value do temporal riches have when they can slip away from our grasp at any moment? The blessings that come from God endure far longer and reach far deeper into our hearts.

Like Zechariah and Elizabeth, we are called to be faithful not only to our commitments but, more importantly, to the Lord Himself. Because of their faithfulness, they received many blessings, foremost among them the gift of a child in their old age. It sounds impossible, doesn’t it? Yet nothing is impossible for God, as long as we remain faithful to Him.

As we reflect on their story, we are invited to examine our own lives: Are we willing to trust God and remain faithful, even when His promises seem delayed or impossible, so that His blessings may unfold in our lives in ways we never imagined? — Marino J. Dasmarinas