What's with the name John?
December 22, 2016
by Mac Norhen Bornales
by Mac Norhen Bornales
Poster by Mac Norhen Bornales and Dominic Dimapawi
He should have been Zechariah Jr., but his name was John.
In Hebrew, the name John means “Yahweh has shown favor.” In the case of Elizabeth and Zechariah, clearly, God has shown favor to them. Both Elizabeth and Zechariah are too old to bear a child and Elizabeth is also barren. But despite all these, they had a son. With God’s ways, nothing is impossible.
In today’s Gospel, we see how John was born. He was supposedly be named as Zechariah like his father but Elizabeth and Zechariah knew that their son is not for them to keep. John is not just an ordinary boy for John will prepare the way of the Lord. He will prepare the way of Jesus Christ, our Savior.
If you will be reading the next few lines of the Gospel which is actually the Gospel on the last day, we will see Zechariah singing his canticle. It is a canticle of praise to the Lord and a monologue on the purpose of John. He says “You my son will be the prophet of the most high. For you will go before Him to prepare His way.”
John the Baptist did not only prepare the way of the Lord but he was also the one who baptized Jesus which will be the start of Jesus’s mission of salvation. In the first reading, John was also compared to the prophet Elijah when he prepared the way of the Lord.
But John is so 30 A.D. How about in the modern times? Do we still need a John for someone to tell us that we have to change better? In the modern times, we are all called by our faith to change for the better. But that change should start from ourselves. As we approach the end of our nine-day sacrifice, let us reflect once again on what we have done to prepare our hearts and souls for the coming of Jesus Christ. Have we repent on our sins and tried to change ourselves for the better?
We are all called to be like John who straightens the way of the Lord. Like John, let us straighten our hearts and attitudes for the Lord. Let us welcome Jesus in our hearts and in return, He will show us the favor of eternal life as well.
In Hebrew, the name John means “Yahweh has shown favor.” In the case of Elizabeth and Zechariah, clearly, God has shown favor to them. Both Elizabeth and Zechariah are too old to bear a child and Elizabeth is also barren. But despite all these, they had a son. With God’s ways, nothing is impossible.
In today’s Gospel, we see how John was born. He was supposedly be named as Zechariah like his father but Elizabeth and Zechariah knew that their son is not for them to keep. John is not just an ordinary boy for John will prepare the way of the Lord. He will prepare the way of Jesus Christ, our Savior.
If you will be reading the next few lines of the Gospel which is actually the Gospel on the last day, we will see Zechariah singing his canticle. It is a canticle of praise to the Lord and a monologue on the purpose of John. He says “You my son will be the prophet of the most high. For you will go before Him to prepare His way.”
John the Baptist did not only prepare the way of the Lord but he was also the one who baptized Jesus which will be the start of Jesus’s mission of salvation. In the first reading, John was also compared to the prophet Elijah when he prepared the way of the Lord.
But John is so 30 A.D. How about in the modern times? Do we still need a John for someone to tell us that we have to change better? In the modern times, we are all called by our faith to change for the better. But that change should start from ourselves. As we approach the end of our nine-day sacrifice, let us reflect once again on what we have done to prepare our hearts and souls for the coming of Jesus Christ. Have we repent on our sins and tried to change ourselves for the better?
We are all called to be like John who straightens the way of the Lord. Like John, let us straighten our hearts and attitudes for the Lord. Let us welcome Jesus in our hearts and in return, He will show us the favor of eternal life as well.