December 23/Fourth Monday of Advent
He asked for a tablet and wrote, “John is his name,” and all were amazed. ~ Luke 1.63
Many cultures around the world have specific customs and expectations about the naming of children. A new baby is named after a parent or grandparent; she is christened with a saint’s name, he is called after a tribal leader or an important ancestor. In Luke’s telling of John the Baptist’s birth, the relatives and neighbors of Elizabeth and Zechariah arrive for the circumcision and naming of the new child, born so improbably to this aged couple. One can almost see the villagers streaming from their houses to rejoice and celebrate this blessed event. But they also bring with them the assumption that the couple will follow the dictates of tradition and name the baby after his father. “They” first tried to impose their views on Elizabeth, indicating their expectation that this baby would follow in Zechariah’s footsteps, becoming a priest and carrying on the family tradition. When that failed — Elizabeth replied quite definitively, “No. He will be called John” — the neighbors and relatives sought a second opinion from Zechariah, who had been struck dumb in his encounter with God’s angel nine months earlier for daring to question God’s intentions. He, too, indicates that he and his wife will follow God’s plan and name the baby John. It takes courage to stand up to the expectations of others, whether they are family members or friends, colleagues or patients or students. Other people sometimes think they know what’s best for us. But in the deep silence of prayer, we may hear the voice of God showing us the way he wants us to go. His are the expectations that matter, not those of the neighbors.
Lord of all places and times, help me keep the claims and expectations of others in perspective, and listen only for your guiding voice within me. Amen.
For today’s readings, click here: http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/122319.cfm
