Solemnity of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist
Reading I: Is 49:1-6 II: Acts 13:22-26

⁵⁷ When the time arrived for Elizabeth to have her child she gave birth to a son.
⁵⁸ Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy toward her, and they rejoiced with her.
⁵⁹ When they came on the eighth day to circumcise the child, they were going to call him Zechariah after his father,
⁶⁰ but his mother said in reply, "No. He will be called John."
⁶¹ But they answered her, "There is no one among your relatives who has this name."
⁶² So they made signs, asking his father what he wished him to be called.
⁶³ He asked for a tablet and wrote, "John is his name," and all were amazed.
⁶⁴ Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed, and he spoke blessing God.
⁶⁵ Then fear came upon all their neighbors, and all these matters were discussed throughout the hill country of Judea.
⁶⁶ 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.
⁸⁰ The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the desert until the day of his manifestation to Israel.

• Liturgical note: During the liturgical year, the Church celebrates only three birthdays celebrated in a liturgical year: that of Jesus (Dec 25), of John the Baptist (June 24), and of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Sept 8).
• (v. 59) On the eighth day: The parents of John have him circumcise according to the regulation of the Laws in Lev 12:3.
• (v. 60) He will be called John: In Hebrew, "Yehohanan" or "Yohanan" means "Yahweh is gracious." Like Jesus (Mt 1:21), the name of John was given to his parents by the angel Gabriel before he was born (Lk 1:13).
• (v. 64) His mouth was opened, his tongue is freed: During Elizabeth's pregnancy and childbirth, Zechariah was silent the entire time. The first word he could utter was praising God.
• (v. 66) And the hand of the Lord is with him: Luke presents John as a parallel to Jesus. Both were born by God's intervention; both have a respective mission to fulfill.

The Lord is gracious in granting Zechariah a son, and most gracious in sending us His Son to bring "salvation to the ends of the earth".

1. Describe a time when you like Zachariah, took a step of faith and beginning speaking, praising God.
2. How was "the hand of the Lord" seen in John's life? In your life?

Enter Reader's Response or View Reader's Response this week
A synthesis by the Vietnamese Christian Life (Dong Hanh) Community