24th of June

Gospel text

(Lk 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.

The Application

Events happen unnoticed by the world. Yet, for people of faith, nothing will go unnoticed, for God helps us to see the truth in the invisible elements, which are  palpable and visible realities. His name is 'John, chosen by God, and we are all chosen by God, so that we, like John, identify the presence of God in our midst. Thus let's not take any events lightly.

Even before his birth this child became a source of joy and wonder. Before Mary, his mother identified the Mother of God and his father will identify the divine works in this child. And all will give glory to God. We are all called to bring people to glorify God.

Like little Samuel and David, this child will also grow in the Spirit and in truth. Accompanied by the Holy Spirit, he will be driven into the desert, to be alone with his God, for his time to come. Of course, our desert life is not necessarily negative, because even in the deserts of life, a divine encounter is possible. We should learn to welcome the desert life, though they are painful and hard.

Action of the day: Glorify God.

Daily Quote from the Early Church Fathers:

Parallels between John and Jesus,

by Ephrem the Syrian (306-373 AD)

"The elderly Elizabeth gave birth to the last of the prophets, and Mary, a young girl, to the Lord of the angels. The daughter of Aaron gave birth to the voice in the desert (Isaiah 63:9), but the daughter of David to the strong God of the earth. The barren one gave birth to him who remits sins, but the Virgin gave birth to him who takes them away (John 1:29). Elizabeth gave birth to him who reconciled people through repentance, but Mary gave birth to him who purified the lands of uncleanness. The elder one lit a lamp in the house of Jacob, his father, for this lamp itself was John (John 5:35), while the younger one lit the Sun of Justice (Malachi 4:2) for all the nations. The angel announced to Zechariah, so that the slain one would proclaim the crucified one and that the hated one would proclaim the envied one. He who was to baptize with water would proclaim him who would baptize with fire and with the Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:11). The light, which was not obscure, would proclaim the Sun of Justice. The one filled with the Spirit would proclaim concerning him who gives the Spirit. The priest calling with the trumpet would proclaim concerning the one who is to come at the sound of the trumpet at the end. The voice would proclaim concerning the Word, and the one who saw the dove would proclaim concerning him upon whom the dove rested, like the lightning before the thunder." (excerpt from COMMENTARY ON TATIAN'S DIATESSARON 1.31)