'His name is John'
Gospel Luke 1: 57-66
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.”
Your Name and Your Purpose
by Patty Dela Rosa
Why is the name so special? Why Are Names Important? What is the purpose of naming and identifying people, objects, and living things? Name is not just a word. It is the first thing that people usually learn about us. It evaluates our personal brand which made us special. It holds the story of our identity.
When someone calls our name, they are not only trying to get our attention, but also acknowledging our existence and hearing our names activate our brain in distinct ways. Since birth, names have played an important part in our lives. They are more than just tags; their meaning is significant and reflects our thoughts of ourselves and others.
For couples who are expecting a baby. Baby naming is one of the most exciting stages of the wife's pregnancy; it is a deeply personal experience. It's about love, identity, and hope for their children's futures. In my case, I never experienced this kind of excitement because I was not blessed with children. However, not having a child does not undermine my worth as a person or a woman.
In this gospel, Elizabeth’s son was named not after his husband Zechariah, but he named his son "John.". As God’s ordered. John is not just an ordinary character in the Bible because of his important role in the life of Jesus. He is the privileged man who baptized the Son of God.
This reading teaches us also to be like Elizabeth for having a wonderful example of faithfulness and devotion to God.
With this modern world and new technology. How can we embody the character of John or Elizabeth in our lives? How do we want to be acknowledged in the society we live in with the names we are carrying? We have to understand that we shouldn't allow our names to be destroyed. Let us reflect on our life's purpose, what God wants for us.
Personally, I believe God has tested me many times. The most painful was my husband's death in 2021, followed by our beloved dogs in the years 2023 and 2024. I cried a lot. I have many heartaches to deal with, but I am still here, kicking through my crumbling sadness. I continue to pray for strength, believing that everything happens for a reason.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, I thank You that Your perfect plans and purposes will never be discouraged, and that You are working silently in the background to ensure that Your divine will progresses toward its final goal.
Help me to accomplish whatever You want me to achieve in my life, and may I be obedient to Your voice as I endeavor to carry out Your plan for my life. May I rejoice forever and pray without ceasing.
Amen.
Gift for Jesus
Jesus' gift for all of us is Himself. How can we return the favor? Keep a humble spirit, pray with sincerity, possess unwavering faith in God, and serve others.
Patty Dela Rosa Working as an operations manager in the human resources services industry. Sending potential Filipino workers abroad for various career positions.
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