23.12.24 Melampaui Tradisi: Menemukan Keunikan dalam Rencana Allah

December 23 "Lk 1:57–66" On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they would have named him Zechariah after his father, but his mother said, "Not so; he shall be called John." And they said to her, "None of your kindred is called by this name." And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he would have him called. And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, "His name is John." They wanted to name the baby after his father, Zechariah, because that was what people did at the time. They were expecting Zechariah to do exactly what everyone else did. They didn't know the story behind the birth of St John. They didn't know what the Angel had revealed to Zechariah. They didn't know why he was dumb. Nevertheless, these busybodies wanted to name the baby after his father because that was 'what people did'. But God doesn't ask us to do 'what people do', He asks us to do His Will. Zechariah had been dumb for nine months. In that period he had time to meditate upon the instructions of the Lord. So, when he had to do what the Angel had said, he didn't waste time writing explanations. He went straight to the point: "His name is John;" full stop! As if saying, 'Mind your own business'. And after he had obeyed, he recovered the use of his speech... Some people (even relatives) expect us to do something because that is the custom or their project or because that's 'what people do'. But God doesn't follow the same pattern. The father of St Francis of Assisi didn't allow him to follow his vocation for a long time. But it didn't change the saint's resolution. The father of St Francis of Sales had already arranged a marriage for him when he revealed his intention to become a priest. The argument lasted for years. St Louis Bertran had to run away from home at the age of 18 because his parents wouldn't allow him to become a friar. Eventually the three of them managed to solve the problem and their parents felt proud of their holy children, but it took years and great suffering on both parts. It all happened because people had plans 'for others': for their children, their friends... Mary, Virgin Most Prudent, I pray that, through your intercession, many may understand how God's plans are always better and that they may help others to follow God's Will.