Daily Word Of God
Luke 1:57-65
The time came for Elizabeth to have her child, and she gave birth to a son; and when her neighbours and relations heard that the Lord had lavished on her his faithful love, they shared her joy. Now it happened that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; they were going to call him Zechariah after his father, but his mother spoke up. ‘No,’ she said, ‘he is to be called John.’
They said to her, ‘But no one in your family has that name,’ and made signs to his father to find out what he wanted him called. The father asked for a writing-tablet and wrote, ‘His name is John.’ And they were all astonished. At that instant his power of speech returned and he spoke and praised God. All their neighbours were filled with awe and the whole affair was talked about throughout the hill country of Judaea.
Today's Pointers on God's Word
As you read the passage what words, phases or meanings caught your attention?
- The birth of John the Baptist was a momentous and yet mystery filled event because it was out of the expectations of his relations and neighbours.
- His parents, Zechariah and Elizabeth, however decided that he was to be called John because they were inspired by the Spirit to know that their son was to be a herald for the Messiah, and so his name should reflect his sacred mission.
- Each of us also has a sacred mission in life that God Wills us to live out daily. Are we aware of this or do we live the gift of life carelessly and squander it daily on superficial concerns and interests?