When the time arrived for Elizabeth to have her child she gave birth to a son. 58 Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy toward her, and they rejoiced with her. 59 When they came on the eighth day to circumcise the child, they were going to call him Zechariah after his father, 60 but his mother said in reply, “No. He will be called John.” 61 But they answered her, “There is no one among your relatives who has this name.” 62 So they made signs, asking his father what he wished him to be called. 63 He asked for a tablet and wrote, “John is his name,” and all were amazed. 64 Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed, and he spoke blessing God. 65 Then fear came upon all their neighbors, and all these matters were discussed throughout the hill country of Judea. 66 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.
Elizabeth, who had been barren and advanced in years (Luke 1:7), now fulfills the prophecy announced by the angel Gabriel to Zechariah (Luke 1:13). The miraculous nature of the birth recalls similar instances of divine intervention in the births of Isaac (Gen. 21:1-3) and Samuel (1 Sam. 1:19-20), underscoring the significance of John the Baptist's role as the forerunner of the Messiah. The phrase “great mercy” emphasizes that John’s birth is an act of divine compassion towards Elizabeth and Israel preparing the way for the fulfillment of God’s salvific plan.
John the Baptist is circumcised when he is eight days old according to the covenant established in Genesis 17:12 and confirmed in Leviticus 12:3. Circumcision signifies the child’s inclusion in the Abrahamic covenant and his identity as part of God’s chosen people. In John’s case, it also underscores his unique mission as part of salvation history, serving as the forerunner to Christ. It was customary to name a child during the ceremony, and according to societal norms, it was expected that the child would be named Zechariah after his father to honor the family lineage. However, Elizabeth insisted that the child be named John, in obedience to the angel’s instructions. Zechariah confirmed this in writing as he was still unable to speak.
Upon writing the name John, Zechariah’s speech was restored, signifying his faith and obedience to God’s plan. This act released him from the silence imposed due to his earlier doubt (Luke 1:20), and he immediately praised and blessed God. The neighbors were struck with fear and awe upon witnessing God’s power and intervention. Their "fear" reflects a deep reverence for the divine works they had witnessed.
All who witnessed the events deeply contemplated what the events meant. The expression “took them to heart” implies profound meditation, similar to Mary’s pondering of the events surrounding Jesus’ birth (Luke 2:19). News of the extraordinary circumstances of John’s birth spread throughout the region, and the community pondered what role the child would play in God’s divine plan of salvation. Their question, "What, then, will this child be?" (Luke 1:66), expresses anticipation of John’s prophetic mission, which had been foretold by Gabriel (Luke 1:15-17). The phrase “the hand of the Lord was with him” affirms God’s active presence and guidance in John’s life, prefiguring his role in preparing the way for the Messiah.
Almighty God, we thank You for Your faithfulness and the mercy You show to Your people. As You guided the life of John the Baptist, help us to trust in Your divine plan and boldly fulfill the mission You have for us. Open our hearts to Your will, that we may always rejoice in Your mighty works and prepare the way for Christ in our lives and in the world. This we pray through the same Christ our Lord. Amen!
Sources
- McSorley, Joseph. An Outline History of the Church by Centuries (From St. Peter to Pius XII). 2nd ed., B. Herder Book Co., 1944.
- Orchard, Bernard, et al. A Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture. Feb. 1953.
- Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
- Faculty of the University of Navarre. The Navarre Bible: New Testament Expanded Edition. Four Courts / Scepter, 2008.
- Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Prentice Hall, 1990.
- Charpentier, Etienne. How to Read the Old Testament. Translated by John Bowden, 1981.
- Komonchak, Joseph, et al., editors. The New Dictionary of Theology.
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