Luke 1:57-66
57 Now Elizabeth’s full time came for her to be delivered, and she brought forth a son. 58 When her neighbors and relatives heard how the Lord had shown great mercy to her, they rejoiced with her.
59 So it was, on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him by the name of his father, Zacharias. 60 His mother answered and said, “No; he shall be called John.”
61 But they said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name.” 62 So they made signs to his father—what he would have him called.
63 And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, saying, “His name is John.” So they all marveled. 64 Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, praising God. 65 Then fear came on all who dwelt around them; and all these sayings were discussed throughout all the hill country of Judea. 66 And all those who heard them kept them in their hearts, saying, “What kind of child will this be?” And the hand of the Lord was with him.
But they said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name.” (vs. 61)
The world desires to name us and have us conform to itself. It desires to call us its own. Truly, each of us comes into this world of the world. By virtue of being conceived by sinful man, we are not holy, not welcome into the presence of holy God — actually, enemies of God. We enter this life as worshippers of ourselves like the world around us. Even into adulthood our flesh can bring us to lash out if our needs and wants are not immediately met. If you doubt this, go for a drive in rush hour traffic. We are idolaters who believe that our needs and wants are to be fulfilled without regard to how it affects others.
Just as John was set apart from the tradition of being given his father’s name. By the grace of God, the Holy Spirit calls us and separates us from the world. Adopted as God’s children, through the waters of Holy Baptism, we are born again as holy children of God. We are given a new name. And, though we remain in the world, we are no longer “of” the world. The world now does not understand us any more than it understands Christ our Savior or John His forerunner. We get to rejoice that God our Father claims us as His children.
When Jesus comes — O blessed story! — He works a change in heart and life;
God’s kingdom comes with pow’r and glory To young and old, to man and wife;
Thro’ Sacrament and living Word, Faih, love, and hope are now conferred.
(TLH 65)
Let us pray: Stir up Your power, O Lord, and come and help us by Your might, that the sins which weigh us down may be quickly lifted by Your grace and mercy; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen
