The Nativity of John the Baptist, Monday – 24th June 2025—Is 49, 1-6; Lk 1, 57-60.80
Parents Chosen for Fulfillment
Mary attended to the needs of her cousin Elizabeth and served with generous charity for three months. Today, we celebrate the nativity of John, her cousin Elizabeth’s son. Her name means “My God’s oath.” God’s covenant and fidelity is recalled in the words, “the Lord has shown great mercy toward her.” God has kept his word and his covenant with Elizabeth, and granted her a blessing as a faithful daughter of his people. Her husband’s name Zechariah means, “Yahweh has remembered.” The song of Zechariah sings out the praises of God for his faithfulness. He proclaims that God’s covenant oaths to David, concerning an everlasting throne, and to Abraham (Gen 22,16-18), about a blessing for all nations, are nearing its fulfillment in the preparatory role played by John’s parents. Thus, we find the names of John’s parents symbolize God’s action on Zechariah as “God remembers”, and his wife Elizabeth as “oath” being fulfilled through the mission of John and Jesus.
