Something New

Gospel: Luke 1: 57-66, 80

"His name is John." This is a startling announcement from Elizabeth, one that she insists upon.  God had revealed to her that the child would be named John, but who would believe a woman? Especially since this name is not traditional in either her or her husband's family.  So, in this story we have a break with tradition announced by a woman to whom God spoke and whom no one would believe because she is a woman and what she announces is not traditional. 

But God has always done new things and continues to do so in our own day.  John is the end of one testament and the beginning of the new.  He is not Elijah, but his ministry is in the spirit of Elijah, though John does something new with the practice of baptismal repentance.  John is the herald of the ultimate new thing God does in the person of Jesus, the one who brings a new being to humankind.

In celebrating the birth of John the Baptist we celebrate God who is ever ancient and ever new.  We maintain an openness to the new things God can and will do in our lives both as individuals and as communities of people.  In remembering John's birth we look forward to the birth of Jesus and our own rebirth as a new creation in the new order and new being God brings through Jesus.