It is 23rd December 2020. The readings are from Malachi 3:1-4, 23-24; and the Gospel from Luke 1:57-66.
To be gracious is overshadowed by the graciousness of God in our life. Every birth has a message, a moment, a memory in the making of that person.
As the Lord entered the temple, so He is going to enter every one of our families, homes, and homeland. Let us not panic and rather prepare the places for the Lord to come into our homes. Just two days left to celebrate our salvation, blessings we have received by the incarnation of God’s Only Son Jesus. God wants to enter our relationships and our brokenness.
John is the messenger about whom the first reading speaks about. John ends the line of prophets and begins the ministry to prepare the people to encounter the Messiah.
“He will turn the hearts of parents to their children and the hearts of children to their parents, so that I will not come and strike the land with a curse.” (Mal.3:24).
Name of the person signifies the intention of the giver and the circumstances one was born. John means the Lord is gracious. Even before Zachariah could scribble on the slate, Elizabeth spelled it out with the power of the Holy Spirit looking at her life with God and all that God has done in her life. The name of John so important in the saving acts of God.
The responsorial Psalm praises, “Lift up your heads and see; your redemption is near at hand.” (Lk.21:28).
We too have been given names that are closely related to something or some events in the family. Even though the parents choose names, yet it is God who instils their minds to spell it.
Every birth brings joy, hope and love in abundance in every family. Naming ceremony of John brought joy to the father by receiving the power of speech once again to praise God in front of the people.
There is a fear, anxiety and worry about what will the child be in the future. In the person of John who played the role of messenger and new Elijah as prophesied by the prophet Malachi.
It is good to spend a moment to reflect our own naming time in our life. Let us recall or ask the family members how the naming moment went for us. It is good to identify our mission, and purpose of life for Christ. May the Lord bless each one of us that we can do our best in our lives. Have a lovely day.