A Gospel according to 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.
REFLECTION
“What, then, will this child be?”
As a mother, many times I wonder what is the path my children will take when they are on their own.
Will they study and have good careers? Will they meet and marry a good spouse with whom to share their lives with? Grow together in love and faith? Will they be happy? What will they be like? Whom will they be?
Alice von Hildebrand, in her book "The Privilege Of Being A Woman" tells us:
"Every single child to whom a woman has given birth will live forever, for he has been given an immortal soul made to God's image and likeness."
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