May the Lord grant grace, peace, and ease in everything through the Holy Spirit.
It is 23rd December 2021. We reflect on Malachi 3:1-4, 23-24 and Luke 1:57-66.
On her birthday, Angelina was presented with a paper pot with some dirt in it by her beloved grandfather. She was disappointed with the gift. But the grandfather told her to keep it near the windowsill and water it daily. She was doing it for months and nothing was happening and so she wanted to return the gift to her grandfather. But he encouraged her to continue watering it. One fine morning she found two beautiful leaves bursting out of the soil. She was excited by this, and asked, “And all it needs is water, Grandpa?” Her grandfather touched her gently on top of her head, and said, “No. All it needs is your faithfulness.”
“What will this child turn out to be?” What was I expected to turn out to be? How have I turned out?
Every birth sprout to be blessed by living out to the full the message of God. God sends messengers untiringly to bring us closer to one another and eventually to God. Elijah and Enoch placed a special role as John the Baptist did for Jesus. However popular messenger is yet he or she is not greater than God. Messenger is the one who prepares the way for the Lord.
God wants to enter our life, homes, hearts, and homelands. Every life has a surprise to surrender. God wishes to deal with us in a new and wonderful way.
We reflect on the birth of John the Baptist as we are about to celebrate Christmas in a day. John is the messenger foretold in the book of Malachi. He is the Precursor, Herald, harbinger, and forerunner of Jesus who played a unique role. He is portrayed in all the four Gospels as a messenger of the Lord.
Naming is not merely cultural and social, but it is deeply spiritual. However, the tension-filled time it is but it is a time of blessing. Wonder and awe that encircled the home of Zachariah and Elizabeth bring us closer to the significance of naming. Though unexpected at their age yet the most-awaited and respected in history. God has shown special favour to them. They named him John. ‘John’ means ‘The Lord is gracious.’ The mother chose it, and the father was blessed by accepting it graciously.
We are the messengers of God today. Our life is the message without any messing up. Our words, actions and presence constantly send out signals of love, joy, peace, and mercy.
Life is indeed a gift found everywhere in an assuming way and through our faithfulness, we can recognise it. We receive a special invitation during Advent to water the soil in the field of our hearts! Come Christmas day we may be surprised to discover that the Word has once again become flesh! May we celebrate our birth as we thank the Lord for the birth of John the Baptist. Let us recall a moment of our naming day to be thankful to God and our families. May God bless you.