Monday December 23rd The Challenge of Change

“The hand of the Lord was with him.”

Luke 1: 57-66

Today’s Gospel on the birth of John the Baptist is a synodal one, in that it challenges us to think about change. How do we respond when asked to do something different to what we have known?
Like many cultures, Jewish customs were prescribed and handed down. The ‘theys’ of our lives – family, friends, elders – always know what to do, because it is what has always been done. Some rituals they kept. Yet one important one was changed. A synodal church encourages us to examine our rituals.
What can we do to be more inclusive? What is God asking of us?
Name him John, though it is not a family name. Let the woman declare his name. Listen to her. Seek confirmation if you must – (they turn to Zechariah) – then follow through on what has been decided.
We are not watering down the faith, we are growing in our understanding of faith, church, and community. What then will we become? Exactly what God is calling us to be – heralders of Christ.