He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s astonishment he
wrote, “His name is John.” (Lk 1:63)
The context of today’s Gospel is the birth, circumcision and naming of St. John the Baptist. John was born to the priest, Zechariah and his wife, Elizabeth in their old age.
Zachariah and Elizebeth rejoiced in John’s birth, as he was a gift from God in their old age. The Naming followed the baby’s Circumcision, and Elizabeth insisted that the child should be named John (which means “the Lord is gracious”), the name given him by the Archangel Gabriel when he spoke to Zechariah. Zechariah who was mute approved that name by writing, “His name is John.” At that action of obedient surrender to the Lord God, his speech was restored, and he loudly proclaimed the praises of God for blessing him with a son and Israel with her Deliverer, whose herald his son would be.
The birth, circumcision and naming of John resembles the presentation Jesus in the temple by Joseph and Mary with the same rituals. The rituals of the sacrament of baptism resemble the same. In Jewish tradition the name given to a child on the day of presentation in the temple bore the child’s identity and mission of the child. The name “Immanuel” means God with us, “Zacharias” -God has remembered, Elizabeth – My God has accomplished and John/Yohannan: God is gracious. John’s birth was regarded as a sign
of God’s favour to a very old woman and a sign of graciousness to the people of Israel.
Your baptism name carries the holy life of a saint, and you are reminded to lead such a life of the saint. Amen.
Fr. Jerry Joseph Vallomkunnel MCBS