Daily Word Of God
Luke 1:57-64, 80
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 shown her so great a kindness, they shared her joy.
Now 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.
Meanwhile the child grew up and his spirit matured. And he lived in the wilderness until the day he appeared openly to Israel.
Today's Pointers on God's Word
As you read the passage what words, phases or meanings caught your attention?
- The Church places its importance to commemorate the birth of John the Baptist who was the herald of the Messiah. The only other birth-day feasts in the Church’s calendar are the birth of Jesus and Mary. Why is John the Baptist so special?
- It is special because John the Baptist was single-minded in his mission to prepare the way for the Messiah. He did this with great determination and against all odds.
- Today as we commemorate the birth of the Baptist, let us recall our baptismal promises and renew our commitment to show others the way to Jesus.