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Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Advent
Malachi 3:1-4, 23-24
Psalm 25 25:4-5AB, 8-9, 10 & 14
Luke 1:57-66
Summary
Writing more than 400 years before the birth of John the Baptist, the Prophet Mala-
chi presages the messenger, whom he calls Elija, to “prepare the way before,” the
Lord himself comes. The Psalmist prays to the Lord his savior to teach him the Lord’s
paths and truths so that sinners may be shown the way to keep the Lord’s covenant
and his decrees. Luke declares baby John, son of Zechariah and Elizabeth, cousin of
Mary, mother of the yet unborn Jesus, to be a child whose life would surely be ac-
companied by the hand of the Lord. He will go forth in the spirit and power of Elija.
(Luke 1: 17)
Reflection
When John was born, Jews would name a boy after his grandfather or sometimes his
father. Indeed, neighbors and relatives who gathered for the circumcision were going
to call the baby “Zechariah,” after his father.
“No. He will be called John” his mother Elizabeth tells those who gathered. But, they
say: “There is no one among your relatives who has this name.” Challenging the old
woman’s break from tradition, they turn to the old man, the priest, the authority,
speechless for months, and ask what he wished the child to be called. Zechariah wrote
“John is his name.” “Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed, and he
spoke blessing God. And all were amazed.”
I ask: Would not “Zechariah the Baptist” go forth in the same spirit and power of Eli-
jah as “John the Baptist”? As Shakespeare wrote, what’s in a name? Is not a rose by
any other name just as sweet? So why “John”? To me, Luke here uses names as signs
to others and as gifts to the named whose ultimate meaning is in God.
“Zechariah” in Hebrew means “God has remembered.” Indeed, God remembered
Zechariah’s prayer, for the angel Gabriel told him, “[Y]our prayer has been heard.
Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call him John.” (Luke 1: 13.)
“Elizabeth” means “God’s promise” or “My God is
generous.” God kept His promise, one generous
beyond all likelihood because the couple was old
and Elizabeth barren. “John” means “God has
been gracious.” God was gracious in giving them a
son who would surely be accompanied by “the
hand of the Lord.” Their names tell us about God’s
in these people. The name “John” is a special gift: