The Gospel according to Luke (1:57-66, 80)
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.
The child grew and became strong in spirit,
and he was in the desert until the day
of his manifestation to Israel.
Reflection:
Prior to the birth of my oldest son, Andrew, the longest I think I had ever held a baby was maybe two minutes. The instant that little bundle began to squirm, I was looking right away for the mom or dad to take the little one before he or she started to cry. Not sure if that may be true of any who are reading or listening to this reflection today! Here’s the thing, though. I had no idea what kind of person, what kind of man God was calling my son Andrew (who we called “Andy” back then) to grow up to be. I just knew I was the one who needed to do all I could to help him on his life journey, knowing that God did indeed have a plan for him.
That relates to today’s Solemnity as John the Baptist’s parents had an inkling of what their son was destined for. After all, an angel appeared to Zechariah telling him that his son would be the herald for the Messiah. Of course, we know that Zechariah didn’t believe and was struck dumb as a consequence. Still, the point is that Zechariah and Elizabeth both knew that their son would have an important role.
Why do we celebrate John the Baptist’s birthday as a Solemnity? It’s not hard to see the reasoning – the only other births we celebrate in the liturgical calendar are Jesus (the long-promised Messiah and Redeemer) and his mother, the blessed Virgin Mary (the one who carried the long-promised Messiah and Redeemer). We add to that John the Baptist, who was the herald of the long-promised Messiah and Redeemer.
You and I – we are called to be Jesus’ herald in our own day. We are the ones who make Him known by our lives and by the love we extend, especially to those most on the margins who are neglected. We are called to be ones who bring together, not divide. That characteristic alone ought to make us shine out like a city set on a hill in this day of polarization and of seeking our own desires ahead of helping out any who are in any kind of lack. May we do our best to make a highway for our God like John the Baptist by loving as Jesus does and by not accepting that any of God’s children are not worthy of His love (because all of us are given that gift). Let’s go forth and spread that love and let God do the rest.
Action for the Day:
Do you see yourself as a herald of Jesus? Take time today to ask God to show you how you can be Jesus’ herald, by your kindness to others, because we can never underestimate how much impact there is in even a small kindness given out of love.
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