Lk 1:57-66
57When the time arrived for Elizabeth to have her child she gave birth to a son. 58Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy toward her, and they rejoiced with her. 59When they came on the eighth day to circumcise the child, they were going to call him Zechariah after his father, 60but his mother said in reply, “No. He will be called John.” 61But they answered her, “There is no one among your relatives who has this name.” 62So they made signs, asking his father what he wished him to be called. 63He asked for a tablet and wrote, “John is his name,” and all were amazed. 64Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed, and he spoke blessing God. 65Then fear came upon all their neighbors, and all these matters were discussed throughout the hill country of Judea. 66All 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.
Reflection
The hand of the Lord: “Hand” stands for guidance and power. The expression means that John the Baptist is a person chosen by God for a mission and given the strength to accomplish it.
The hand of the Lord is with the child from the very beginning—when Zechariah is told of this gift in his old age. Elizabeth feels him leaping for joy in her womb when she hears Mary’s greeting (Lk 1:44). At his birth and circumcision, Elizabeth’s neighbors sense the stirring of great things—in the agreement between the two parents on the name for this child of their old age. They can only conclude that the child is destined to be someone.
John the Baptist ranks among the great figures of Israel—men and women whom God raises up to be the heroes of his people. Of Samson, it is said: “The boy grew up and the Lord blessed him; the spirit of the Lord first stirred him…” (Jgs 13:24-25). Of Samuel, it is written: “Samuel grew up, and the Lord was with him” (1 Sm 3:19).
Jesus’ own growth will thus be described: he “advanced in wisdom and age and favor before God and man” (Lk 2:52). John the Baptist who relives so much of Israel’s history is connected, in turn, with Jesus who will unveil the salvation of Israel.