Unwrapped
A child is a gift.
Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. Her neighbors 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 neighbors, 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. Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke this prophecy: ‘Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has looked favorably on his people and redeemed them. - Luke 1:57-68
Today's Gospel is about the naming of John the Baptist, a special time, when he is circumcised and his mission in this world is acknowledged by his father, Zechariah.
Once Zechariah accepts that God has a plan for this child, he regains his ability to speak, and he praises God.
All who heard about John asked what will this child become. They were curious because they heard he was a gift from God.
But aren't all children a gift from God?
Shouldn't we all marvel in the miracle of birth and feel the same curiosity for each newborn? What will this child become? God has so favored this one, he or she must become someone special.
What if we chose to see each other as gifts? How would that change our perceptions and impressions of one another?
When I encounter someone who is down on his luck, do I see failure or the potential for rebirth and reimagining oneself?
If I choose to see everyone as gifts from God, then I can look at someone with wonder and excitement for what he or she will become, just as the people who heard about John did.
What difference does it make if the person is a newborn or middle aged?
Some of us just take a little longer to be unwrapped.
More to come...