23-Dec-16

Gospel LK 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.”
Reflection:
“What, then, will this child be?
For surely the hand of the Lord was with him.”
The ancient stories of the birth of John the Baptist and Jesus are filled with the appearance of angels bearing messages and predictions.
Both John and Jesus were born with a purpose, a calling from God to make His presence known to the world.
They were nurtured and guided by human parents who enabled them to rise to their destiny.
Every mother and father stands in wonder as they hold their newborn child and ask the same age old question, "What, then, will this child be?"
Our birth may not be preceded by angels and predictions, but each of us is also born with a God given purpose.
Through our words and good works, we too are called to be heralds and witnesses that the Kingdom of God is at hand.
Soon, we will celebrate the coming of Jesus Christ into the world.
Let each of us proclaim on Christmas morning; "God has come! May He live among us in the hearts of all who believe in Jesus Christ."
"Do you not realize about yourself that Jesus Christ is alive in you?" - - 2 Corinthians 13:5