Now the time came for Elizabeth to be delivered, and she gave birth to a son. And her neighbours and kinsfolk heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they would have named him Zechariah after his father, but his mother said, “Not so; he shall be called John.” And they said to her, “None of your kindred is called by this name.” And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he would have him called. And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, “His name is John.” And they all marvelled. And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God. And fear came on all their neighbours. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea; and 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. And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness till the day of his manifestation to Israel.
We witness how God’s plan unfolds despite everyone’s resistance. The Father sends the precursor of His Son, John the Baptist. The woman who was to conceive him was barren and elderly, but for God, this was no obstacle. On the contrary, it had to be known that this was His work, not man’s. The child’s father, Zechariah, did not believe the angel’s announcement and was struck mute so that he might learn to believe. The child had to be named John, against customs and public opinion, and so he was named John. It was God’s plan, and it was unstoppable. That child, with no merit of his own, was called to be the precursor of the Son of God, and thus, he grew and became strong in spirit.
Lord, what is man that You are mindful of him? We are so insignificant beside the power of God… Yet, dear spouses, God is determined to make us all holy who respond to Mary’s call, so hold on tight! He may leave us speechless, barren, and lead us through impossible situations, but He will show the world the sanctity of Marriage. Glory to God!
Applied to Married Life:
Henry: I thought our relationship was impossible. I saw no way out. I had a bad temper and emotionally crushed you. But I thought I was right and you were wrong. You were fed up with me and didn’t know how to turn things around, either personally or in our relationship.
Brittany: But you said “Yes” to Mary’s call, and She placed us together on this path of true love, and here we are, still fighting together. I saw you as the bad one and thought I was the good one. You were like an ogre to me, I couldn’t stand you. I didn’t wish you harm, but I felt relieved when you were away.
Henry: But Our Mother has insisted on showing us the Love of Her Son. A Great love, of forgiveness, of mutual co-redemption, of being the right help for each other to reach God. It has completely changed the way I see you.
Brittany: Now I see you as God’s gift, and now, I can’t live without you. Our Mother prepared our hearts to receive Christ. Glory to God!
Mother,
We are not aware of the power of God. We are not aware that He will triumph, no matter what. He will come, and all kings and all forces of evil will bow before Him. I am very happy to be His child and to have placed myself in His hands. Praise be to the Lord, who never abandons us.