December 23, 2013, Gospel

Luke   1: 57-66

1:57 Now the time for Elizabeth to give birth arrived, and she brought forth a son.

1:58 And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had magnified his mercy with her, and so they congratulated her.

1:59 And it happened that, on the eighth day, they arrived to circumcise the boy, and they called him by his father’s name, Zechariah.

1:60 And in response, his mother said: “Not so. Instead, he shall be called John.”

1:61 And they said to her, “But there is no one among your relatives who is called by that name.”

1:62 Then they made signs to his father, as to what he wanted him to be called.

1:63 And requesting a writing tablet, he wrote, saying: “His name is John.” And they all wondered.

1:64 Then, at once, his mouth was opened, and his tongue loosened, and he spoke, blessing God.

1:65 And fear fell upon all of their neighbors. And all these words were made known throughout all the hill country of Judea.

1:66 And all those who heard it stored it up in their heart, saying: “What do you think this boy will be?” And indeed, the hand of the Lord was with him.