Reflection for December 23, Thursday 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 can our fidelity to the desire of God do to us? It can bring us blessings, it can free us from the bondage of sin, and it can heal us from sickness and there are countless more blessings for those who are faithful. 

Initially the new born baby was supposed to be named after his father Zechariah for it was the tradition during that time. But his mother Elizabeth intervened, she told them that he is to be named John for that was the desire of God. 

The relatives were not fully convinced with the desire of Elizabeth to name her child John. So they asked Zechariah and on a tablet he wrote the name John. And immediately Zechariah was freed from the bondage of not being able to speak. 

God has always a reward for those who are faithful to His desire and this desire is to follow at all times His will for us. You may ask, and what is the desire of God? God’s desire  is for us to  follow His ten commandments (Exodus 20:1-17) and to follow Jesus’ two greatest commandments of love (Matthew 22:36-40).  

We may not become rich and powerful in the measurement of this world if we would follow God’s commands. But we will certainly have peace in our life, peace that this world will not be able to give us no matter how rich and powerful we become.  

Do you always strive to follow the desire of God? – Marino J. Dasmarinas