The Birth of John the Baptist Luke 1:57-68 11
Imaginative Contemplation
Enter into the scene
I have come to spend some time with Elizabeth. What an exciting time this is, the birth of a baby? Although Elizabeth is older than most mothers, she is full of joy, and it is so good to hear her praising God for this special time in her life. She is a wise lady, Elizabeth! Her neighbours really don’t know her. They judge her as too old, a woman, and someone that they have to ‘look after’. And she takes it all without protest. She tells me that when others judge her and dismiss her, she turns to God for strength and guidance. ‘And he has never let me down,’ she says.
I have been here for well over a week now, and so much has happened in that time.
First, there was the circumcision. Well, was there a fuss about the name! the bossy ones who love to control Elizabeth decided that the baby was to be called Zechariah. ‘Poor Zechariah!’ they said. ‘The poor man can’t speak or hear either! He must have done something really bad for God to punish him like that. I wonder what he did… But even if he is a bad man, he still has the right to name his child. And what on earth is Elizabeth talking about, suggesting the name…what is it? John, or something!’
They tried to make signs to Zechariah to get approval for the name. He was very agitated, and when someone suggested that he might be able to write what he wanted to say, he wrote in big black letters, ‘His name is John!’ He looked angrily at the people, and then began to speak!
And what a speech!
I felt an amazing joy and sense of awe sweep over me as I listened to Zechariah talk about the wonderful things God has done in the past. And I recognised that God is working in our lives, in our time, here and now! Wow!
For further reflection
Elizabeth gave birth to a son, and her neighbours rejoiced with her.
On the eighth day, they came to circumcise the child and were going to call him Zechariah after his father. Elizabeth insisted that he should be called John. The family tried to get an answer from Zechariah. Zechariah wrote on a tablet, ‘His name is John.’ With this, Zechariah was able to speak again. He praised God, proclaiming that John would be a light to the nations, a prophet of Almighty God. The people responded with awe and expectation.
Discuss with Jesus the following points:
• Elizabeth gave birth to a son. There didn’t seem to be anything unusual about the birth, even though Elizabeth was older than most mothers.
• Her neighbours rejoiced with her, but they had already made decisions and judgments about the situation.
• Eight days later, the neighbours decided on the baby’s name. Elizabeth had to intervene. Her suggestion was dismissed, and the neighbours tried to get information from Zechariah.
• The neighbours seemed to think that they could judge and act on behalf of Elizabeth.
• Do I make judgements about other people, especially people who are different (refugees, young people or old people, etc.)?
• Do I seek to find the whole story rather than just believing media, either social media or TV or newspapers?
• Do I make judgements about the actions of people in my life?
• How do I feel when others take decisions for me that I am able to make for myself?
• Have I ever been wrongly judged by others? How did I feel? How did I react?
• It seems that Zechariah was not able to hear as well as not being able to speak. The neighbours made signs to him. Was he indeed deaf, or was this a judgement that others put on him?
• How careful am I to consider what I say to people?
• Am I sometimes deaf to what God is trying to say to me?
• How can I make times in my life for quiet so that I can hear the promptings of the Holy Spirit?
• The baby is to be called John. This is pointing to the beginning of a new era which would come with the mission of Jesus. John points the way to something new.
• Am I able to see the new emerging in my life?
• Am I ready to follow Jesus along the way?
Lord, teach me to imitate Mary as she praises you and reaches out to others. Amen.
Prayer
‘Judgement is mine; I will repay,’ says the Lord. Jesus, teach me to respect all people as you do. Make me slow to anger, quick to forgive. Amen.