The Best Friend Test
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Gospel
Lk 1:57-66, 80
Now the time came for Elizabeth to be delivered, and she gave birth to a son. And her neighbors and kinsfolk heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they would have named him Zechari´ah 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.” And they all marveled. And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God. And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea; and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, “What then will this child be?” For the hand of the Lord was with him.
And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness till the day of his manifestation to Israel.
Readings are from Dynamic Catholic’s New Testament Bible: RSV Catholic Edition
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Transcript
The Best Friend Test
Welcome back to Radical & Relevant. Today's Gospel is from Luke chapter 1 verses 57-66 and verse 80. "Now the time came for Elizabeth to be delivered, and she gave birth to a son, and her neighbors and kinsfolk heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. And on the eighth day, they came to circumcise the child. And they would have named him Zechariah after his father. But his mother said, 'No, 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.' And they all marveled, and immediately his mouth was open, and his tongue loose, and he spoke blessing God, and fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea, and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, 'What then will this child be? For the hand of the Lord was with him.' And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness till the day of his manifestation to Israel."
What jumps out at you? It's one of those fabulous stories in the Bible. It's one of those stories we've heard many, many times. What jumps out at me is five little words, easy to miss here, "And they rejoiced with her." It says, "Her neighbors and kinsfolk heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her and they rejoiced with her." Five words, "And they rejoiced with her." My dad always used to tell me you can tell a true friend by how happy they are for you when good things happen to you or for you. Unfortunately, sometimes good things happen for you and then sometimes people you thought were your best friends, they're envious or resentful or jealous or whatever. My dad used to say-- he said, "Your best friends, your truest friends, when good things happen for you, they will be happier for you than if it happened to themselves." And I think my dad may be setting the bar a little bit too high there. But the truth is, he was that type of person. He was that type of person. When good things happen for other people, it was as if it happened to him. He was that happy for them. So who are those people in your life who rejoice when good things happen to you? And are you that kind of friend to the people in your life? Have an amazing day.
Remember, be bold, be Catholic.
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