Wed 24 June And everyone rejoiced with her!

Luke 1:57-66

By now Elizabeth’s waiting was over, for the time had come for the baby to be born—and it was a boy. The word spread quickly to her neighbors and relatives of how kind the Lord had been to her, and everyone rejoiced with her. When the baby was eight days old, all the relatives and friends came for the circumcision ceremony. They all assumed the baby’s name would be Zacharias, after his father. But Elizabeth said, “No! He must be named John!” “What?” they exclaimed. “There is no one in all your family by that name.” So they asked the baby’s father, talking to him by gestures. He motioned for a piece of paper and to everyone’s surprise wrote, “His name is John!” Instantly Zacharias could speak again, and he began praising God. Wonder fell upon the whole neighborhood, and the news of what had happened spread through the Judean hills. And everyone who heard about it thought long thoughts and asked, “I wonder what this child will turn out to be? For the hand of the Lord is surely upon him in some special way.”

Food for thought!

When the word had spread around that Elizabeth had given finally given birth, “everyone rejoiced with her.” These words are very important. Very few people rejoice at others' success; very few celebrate others' achievements; very few see and say any good about others. Instead, people envy each other; gossip about each other. But not so with those people in the gospel reading: they openly shared her joy.
We shouldn't envy those who succeed in life or whom God has blessed. We should instead celebrate, because God blesses everybody, at different moments, of course. We only have to wait our turn. Wait for your turn. In the meantime, don't envy others but rather celebrate their success and achievement.
Remember that benevolent people have a distinct advantage over the envious. People who get caught up in envy are tormented, not only by various ills that befalls them, but by the good that happens to others. Those who are joyous with life and in life are better prepared to handle any situation because of the inner serenity they have acquired by watching for the beauty and abundance that is around them.

Joy makes for a long life and makes it worth living. Enjoy yourself and be happy; don't worry all the time. Worry never did anybody any good, and it has destroyed many people. It will make you old before your time. Envy and anger will shorten your life. (Eccl. 30:22-24)