The monks of Pluscarden Abbey sing Venite filii, audite me. ‘Come, my sons and daughters, listen to me... Come to the Lord and be enlightened; and your faces will not be put to shame.’ As you enter into prayer now, can you sense that invitation from God? Can you hear those words spoken to you? And accept the welcome, and that reassurance that God wants to give you?

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Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Luke.

Luke 1:57-66

Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. Her neighbours and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her.

On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him Zechariah after his father. But his mother said, ‘No; he is to be called John.’ They said to her, ‘None of your relatives has this name.’ Then they began motioning to his father to find out what name he wanted to give him. He asked for a writing-tablet and wrote, ‘His name is John.’ And all of them were amazed. Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue freed, and he began to speak, praising God. Fear came over all their neighbours, and all these things were talked about throughout the entire hill country of Judea. All who heard them pondered them and said, ‘What then will this child become?’ For, indeed, the hand of the Lord was with him.

In today’s Gospel, we witness the joyful scene of John the Baptist’s birth. Elizabeth’s friends rejoice with her and as Zechariah names the child “John”, and regains his voice, people are astonished.

Though a miraculous moment of scripture, perhaps you have also witnessed God’s hand in the beginnings of life?

Where have you noticed the “seed moments”— in a child’s birth, a new project, a growing relationship — and felt that God was present?

Do you sense that God is preparing something new, even if you don’t fully understand it yet?

As you listen to the passage again, notice that for Zechariah, the truth, and trust, has set him free.

Luke 1:57-66

Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. Her neighbours and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her.

On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him Zechariah after his father. But his mother said, ‘No; he is to be called John.’ They said to her, ‘None of your relatives has this name.’ Then they began motioning to his father to find out what name he wanted to give him. He asked for a writing-tablet and wrote, ‘His name is John.’ And all of them were amazed. Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue freed, and he began to speak, praising God. Fear came over all their neighbours, and all these things were talked about throughout the entire hill country of Judea. All who heard them pondered them and said, ‘What then will this child become?’ For, indeed, the hand of the Lord was with him.

“What, then, will this child be? For surely the hand of the Lord was with him.”

Share with the Lord, who was also a child of wonder, whatever feelings this passage has raised for you.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be

World without end

Amen