“ALL 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.’” LK 1:57-66
Humbly submit your will to God (Thy Will be done) and consecrate yourself to the Sacred Heart of Jesus through Mary and Joseph.
When the time arrived for Elizabeth to have her child
she gave birth to a son.
Her neighbors and relatives heard
that the Lord had shown his great mercy toward her,
and they rejoiced with her.
When they came on the eighth day to circumcise the child,
they were going to call him Zechariah after his father,
but his mother said in reply,
“No. He will be called John.”
But they answered her,
“There is no one among your relatives who has this name.”
So they made signs, asking his father what he wished him to be called.
He asked for a tablet and wrote, “John is his name,”
and all were amazed.
Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed,
and he spoke blessing God.
Then fear came upon all their neighbors,
and all these matters were discussed
throughout the hill country of Judea.
All 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.” Lk 1:57-66
It was important for Elizabeth and Zechariah to name the boy, John. First, when an angel appears, Zechariah doubted the angel, then became mute, it is best to do what the angel/God wants you to do. God always has a plan for our lives, take time to listen to what He is trying to tell you each day. What is God asking of you in your life right now?
Second, names are important. Your parents put some serious thought into naming you. Many times grandparents, parents, and saints are places parents look to name their children. Why? There is something special about a person’s name. It identifies us as unique and with great value. Each of us desires to make a name for ourselves.
Why? We have a deep yearning for the eternal, to be with God forever, our Creator in our heavenly homeland. There is no other person like us or created for the purpose the Father created us for. Therefore, this yearning is fulfilled in knowing who we are in Christ and glorifying the Father now and into all eternity!
This is why names are so important. There is no other person-body and soul-like us. God made us uniquely for a mission that no one else can fulfill but us. Now that is making a name for ourselves, in being other Christ’s and glorifying the Father. This is why parents take it seriously in choosing a name for their children.
As a teacher, I was taught by my mentor to learn the names of all of the kids before I taught them. It is amazing the respect I receive from them by making sure I know their name. It shows that I care about them as a human being and that they matter. We are not just a number in a system or government, but a name gives us an identity within a family that can be traced back to the very beginning.
Many times we put too much emphasis on the numbers instead of the people involved in those numbers. God took special care to think and will us into existence out of love. There are no two set of fingerprints the same. God knew us before we were even knit in our mothers’ wombs. We were loved before we were ever born!
We may share birthdays with someone, but every baptism is unique. God has set each one of us apart for a special mission like He did John today (anointed with holy oil). We not only have physical gifts and talents to give but also spiritual ones. Our names are important, but we must take time each day to sit in silence and listen to God in our heart so we will know our identity given to us by our Creator.
Today’s challenge: Research where your name came from, why your parents chose it, and what it means. Take time today to ask God why He made you, the response might strike fear in you, but He will give you what you need to fulfill it. It’s why He made you. Knowing why a person was made and has great value and worth is what every person is yearning for deep down in their heart! Go there and spend time with Jesus in silence each day.
Be a servant, be a saint today!
#Christian YOLO
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