The Birth of John the Baptist

 When the time came for Elizabeth, she gave birth to a son.  Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her such great mercy and they rejoiced with her. When on the eighth day they came to perform the circumcision of the child, they wanted to name him Zechariah after his father.  But his mother said, “Not so; he shall be called John.”  said to her, “No one in your family has that name;”  and they asked the father by means of signs for the name he wanted to give. Zechariah asked for a writing tablet and wrote on it, “His name is John,” and they were very surprised.  lmmediately Zechariah could speak again and his first words were in praise of God. A holy fear came on all in the neighborhood, and throughout the hills of Judea the people talked about these things.  As they heard this, they pondered in their hearts and wondered, “What will this child be?” For they understood that the power of the Lord was with him.