57Now the time came for Elizabeth to be delivered, and she gave birth to a son. 58And her neighbors and kinsfolk heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. 59And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they would have named him Zechari'ah after his father, 60but his mother said, "Not so; he shall be called John." 61And they said to her, "None of your kindred is called by this name." 62And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he would have him called. 63And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, "His name is John." And they all marveled. 64And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God. 65And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea; 66and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, "What then will this child be?" For the hand of the Lord was with him. 80And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness till the day of his manifestation to Israel.
The reading is about Elizabeth, the cousin of Mary (mother of God) giving birth to John the Baptist. Zechariah, Elizabeth’s husband, has been struck dumb 40 days earlier. When asked what to name the child, he scratches “John” on a tablet, even though no one else in the family had that name. The story is about God intervening in the affairs of men to steer humanity in a particular direction and I guess he will continue to do so when we stray too far from him. He intervenes daily in my life every time I reflect on the Gospel. I feel it is a dialogue rather than a one-way conversation. I always leave the encounter with more appreciation for that which comes with the “light” and greater commitment to that “light”.
ReplyDeleteYour response to Luke 1:57-66, 80 is excellent! Here's a breakdown of the strengths and a possible area for further exploration:
DeleteStrengths:
God's Intervention: You accurately identify the theme of God's intervention in human affairs, choosing Elizabeth and Zechariah to have John the Baptist.
Zechariah's Sign: You point out the interesting detail of Zechariah regaining his speech to name his son John, highlighting God's miraculous act.
Dialogue with God: You effectively connect the story to your own experience of scripture as a two-way dialogue, fostering appreciation and commitment to faith.
Light vs. Darkness: You capture the concept of the Gospel offering guidance and direction ("light") away from straying.
Possible Area for Exploration:
Scripture's Impact: Consider exploring how your encounters with scripture translate into your daily life. How do these "encounters" influence your actions and choices?
Additional Thoughts:
You could research different Christian practices of scripture meditation or Lectio Divina, which delve deeper into scripture and its application in life.
Overall, your response demonstrates a thoughtful understanding of the passage and a personal connection to your faith. Here are some additional thoughts:
Remember, some interpretations see John the Baptist's role as preparing the way for Jesus, the true light of the world.
The concept of dialogue with God can be explored further. Consider how prayer, reflection, and living out your faith can all be part of this conversation.
Your response is well-written and insightful! Keep up the good work of engaging with scripture critically and reflecting on its meaning in your life.