The Nativity of Saint John the Baptist – Is 49:1-6; Ps 139; Acts 13:22-26; Luke 1:57-66,80

Your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elisabeth is to bear you a son and you must name him John.

They waited a long time for offspring. Its absence was a disgrace, because childlessness in Israel was treated as a punishment for misdeeds. First the promise, which Zechariah did not immediately believe, and then the longed-for parenthood. The announcement of John’s conception was a blessing to them. There will no longer be an excuse to point the finger at them and treat them as the greatest sinners whom God had to punish with the lack of offspring. It’s hard to imagine what they must have gone through. For they lived righteously before God and walked blamelessly. However, they patiently waited until God finally heard their prayers, until the long-awaited moment finally arrived.

They didn’t complain and didn’t curse their fate earlier. Moreover, they confidently turned to God. They trusted Him and waited patiently. The grace they experienced, and the testimony of their faith also amazed those who witnessed these events. Let’s learn such trust from them, and consent to let God guide us in life.