Breaking the Word

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. The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the desert until the day of his manifestation to Israel. (Lk 1:57-66,80)

Birth of a child is due to the mercy of God. Relatives and neighbours recognized this and they rejoiced over this. Yes, birth of a child is a time of gathering of relatives and friends. Also it is a time to rejoice and celebrate. It is also a time to remember God and be grateful for the mercy shown. Every birth reminds us of unity (gathering of relatives and friends), makes us celebrate and helps us to remind us the presence of God and his mercy.

Naming of the child shows us that the child belongs to the family. Why? Because, they always named the child with the name of the father or with the name of the forefathers of the family. So it was to show the family to which the child belonged. But here the name is revealed by God and that shows that he belonged to God and the child has a mission that is given by God.

It is strange that the child grew up but was in the desert till the day of the manifestation. We know that the desert is the place of God experience. (Israel experienced God in the desert while they were there for 40 years). So John who was a gift of God (by birth) belonged to God (by his name) and grew up with God (in the desert). All these point out to him that he has a special mission. 

  "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but underneath are ravenous wolves. By their fruits you will know them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Just so, every good tree bears good fruit, and a rotten tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a rotten tree bear good fruit.  Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. So by their fruits you will know them. (Mt 7:15-20)

False Prophets were persons who claimed to be speaking the word of God but in fact they were not. They were very nice people, very reasonable and in fact trust worthy people. People also listened to the happily. But they were leading the people in the wrong way.

There was no test to find out the true Prophet from a false Prophet. Only test was to wait for the prophecies to be fulfilled. Prophecy is the prophet. Prophet can be identified as true or false only after the fulfilment of the prophecy. Prophecy has to be seen being fulfilled in the life of the prophet. His life will be reveal.

Jesus gives a graphic example of a tree and its fruits. Looking at the tree we cannot say anything. A tree may look good and healthy but only the fruits will reveal the tree completely. Jesus also gives a hint that the true and the false prophets will be treated according to deeds.