The Birth of John the Baptist [June 24, 2012]

The Sunday Gospel [Solemnity of the Birth of St. John the Baptist - June 24, 2012]

Luke 1:57-66, 80 

57When the time arrived for Elizabeth to have her child she gave birth to a son. 58Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy toward her, and they rejoiced with her. 59When they came on the eighth day to circumcise the child, they were going to call him Zechariah after his father, 60but his mother said in reply, “No. He will be called John.” 61But they answered her, “There is no one among your relatives who has this name.” 62So they made signs, asking his father what he wished him to be called. 63He asked for a tablet and wrote, “John is his name,” and all were amazed. 64Immediately his mouth was
opened, his tongue freed, and he spoke blessing God. 65Then fear came upon all their neighbors, and all these matters were discussed throughout the hill country of Judea.66All 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.

80The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the desert until the day of his manifestation to Israel.

Reflection

“Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy toward [Elizabeth], and they rejoiced with her.” ~ v. 58

“John” comes from the Hebrew Yehohanan or the shorter Yohanan, a name associated with the root “HNN” which means “to grace” or “to show favor.” John therefore means ”Yahweh has given grace.” It was not an uncommon name: it occurred in the Maccabean priestly family. The grandfather of Judas Maccabeus was called John and so was his elder brother (1 Mc 2:1). A Maccabee, John Hyrcanus, would later become both high priest and king.

In his diptych presentation of the birth and circumcision of John and Jesus, Luke allots no more than two verses to the birth of John and the joy that it occasions while he describes the circumcision at length. The case of Jesus is different: the story of his birth is presented in detail while his circumcision is mentioned in passing.

The relatives of Zechariah and Elizabeth discover that the conception and birth of John are divinely willed not through the word of the angel but through the wonders that surround the naming of the child. What the angel predicted to Zechariah – that the child would be called John and that many would rejoice at his birth (Luke 1:13-14) – are fulfilled.

The people do not know of this prediction, but they sense a stirring of great things in the marvelous agreement between both parents on the name. Luke declares that the child will become strong in spirit, filled with the Spirit of God, and he will grow up in the desert where he will start his ministry. John, the son of a priest, will break with tradition: he will not grow up to be a priest serving God in the temple; he will become a prophet who will prepare the way of the Messiah.

Reflection Credits: Fr. Gil A. Alinsangan, SSP; Treasures New And Old

Source: The Reflection is from Bro. Abel Navarro (you can visit his blog at http://myblogabelnavarroabel.blogspot.com/).