Today we hear the story of the birth and naming of John the Baptist. The response to his birth is the question: “What, then, will this child be?” The people recognized that the “hand of the Lord was with him” and are filled with wonder and expectation. God’s hand and Spirit will guide John as he prepares the way for the Lord Jesus. This preparation begins even in the womb as the unborn John jumps for joy at the greeting of Mary carrying the unborn Jesus. This very human and exciting moment as the baby John kicks in his mother’s womb is a sure sign that God is with Elizabeth.
“What will this child be?” A similar question will be asked when Jesus is born. This question is enshrined in the famous Christmas hymn, “What Child is This?” The words were written by William Chatterton Dix: “What Child is this, who, laid to rest, on Mary’s lap is sleeping…” The words were later set to a traditional English folk song “Greensleeves.”
As we hear the Christmas story this week we are filled again with wonder and questioning. What will this child be? What place does John the Baptist have in my life? Like John, you and I are called to prepare the way of the Lord. We are called to help people to see that God is indeed at work in our world and in our daily lives. We are challenged by John to turn from our cynicism and anger to experience the joy of Christmas. What is more joyful than the kicking of a baby in the womb of its mother? How can one be cynical or angry when we see a newborn baby? What child is this? This is Christ our Lord!