Author: Dr. Ehrlson de Sousa

Hannah said,

"I prayed for this child, and the Lord granted my request. Now I, in turn, give him to the Lord" - 1 Samuel 1:27-28

How often do we pray really hard to God for something and when we get it we totally forget to be grateful for it?

'The Lord your God is in your midst, a warrior who gives victory' - Zephaniah 3:17

We are in a daily battle with the devil. And often we end up losing by falling into various sins.
So also, the daily battles of our jobs, families and relationships often leave us feeling hopeless and helpless.

The angel said,

"Do not be afraid Mary for you have found favour with God" - Luke 1:30

Today's gospel reading brings to light a few interesting points:

'The angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son'" - Luke 1:13

Today's readings present us with 2 men, Manoah and Zechariah both of whose wives were barren and had all but given up hopes of bearing a child.

'Her husband Joseph being a righteous man was unwilling to expose her to disgrace' - Matthew 1:19

We talk so much about Jesus and Mary and very often completely forget about Joseph. I thought, I would share a few thoughts today.

"A man named John was sent from God. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to testify to the light" - John 1:6-8

Pope Benedict writes, that we were not made for the ordinary but that we were made for greatness. And it is exactly the pursuit of this greatness that should drive us daily.

"By the Lord’s word Elijah shut up the heavens and three times brought down fire" - Sirach 48:3

The Bible is full of instances where the prophets, Jesus and the apostles used the word of God to do great and wonderful things.

'We played the flute for you, but you did not dance. We sang a dirge, but you did not weep' - Luke 7:32

The children in today's gospel complain that when they make merry music as played at weddings, no one dances or sings along and when they play mournful tunes for sad occasions as funerals, it is the same dead response.

"Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist" - Matthew 11:11

Jesus was undoubtedly the greatest man to ever live. In 3 years of His public ministry He made a huge impact.
But in spite of all that He did, Jesus never forgot the people around Him who also worked tirelessly.
In today's gospel reading, we read how He appreciates John the Baptist for preparing the way for His coming.