HOMILY FOR THE NATIVITY OF JOHN THE BAPTIST
THEME: KEEP BELIEVING GOD.
BY: Fr. Karabari Paul
HOMILY FOR THURSDAY JUNE 23 2022
‘Immediately Zechariah could speak again and his first words were in praise of God’ (Luke 1:64).
It is fitting to reflect on the conditions surrounding his birth as we celebrate the the nativity of St John the Baptist. The Bible stated that both Elizabeth and Zechariah, the parents of John were upright and lived blamelessly but had no children. You would expect that things would go well with all those who live righteously, and yet they are also afflicted.
Elizabeth was barren, and together with the husband, she was very old (Luke 1:5-7). Barrenness carried a religious stigma among the Jews. But as with Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, and Hannah, the famous ancestresses of the Jewish people, this happened to Elizabeth so that God’s goodness and power shown to the humble and despised can be made more manifest (1Sam 1:1-28).
When Zechariah was told of John’s conception, a man that was close to God doubted. But God was not going to be stopped by man; Zechariah got struck and lost the power of speech (Luke 1:20). Obviously, the doubt of Zechariah was hinged on the fact that what God had said appeared very impossible according to the law of nature. Zechariah and Elizabeth had gone beyond the age needed to have children. Our regular presence before God does not cure doubt. Faith is built. Your doubt maybe taller than you even when you operate from the sanctuary.
Has God promised you something and humanly speaking you see no way it can come to pass? Are you having a hard time waiting? The Bible says: ‘If it seems slow….wait patiently, for it will surely take place’ (Habakkuk 2:3). God does things on schedule, your breakthrough is still on His calendar. Be assured that nothing man does can pre-empt the plan of God for your life. For those who try to stop it or doubt it, He makes them mute. No one is powerful than God. Nobody can stop His plan. GOD IS STILL ON THE THRONE. May God have mercy on us, heal our world, bless and protect us all through Christ Our Lord Amen. Please, stay safe. Good morning.
Fr. Karabari Paul