There is no one among your relatives who has that name. Luke 1:61
The security and comfort of the familiar is very appealing to each one of us. This leads to the formulation of habits and traditions that enable us to face the unknown uncertainties of tomorrow. We see that in the young child who develops the routine that concludes an eventful day—dinner, bath, story time, bedtime. It is evident into our adult years as we develop habits of the heart—familiar steps to foster our continued spiritual growth. It drives us to take secure and comforting steps in the life of the Church as we march to the rhythm of the liturgical year—Advent, Christmas, Ordinary Time, Lent,Pentecost. This posture of comfort comes at a cost—most of us do not like change. We would like to remain in the rhythm of the familiar. Change brings uncertainty, insecurity, and discomfort.
The tradition of naming a child after someone known to us—a relative in this text—is very comforting. The parents look at the long list of relatives that have preceded the child, both dead and alive, and select a name that will serve as the guide, the paradigm for this child. The parents honor the past and long that the naming of the child will result in the security and comfort of a life of similar worth. Elizabeth and Zechariah had longed for a child for decades. We can imagine that early in their marriage they, like young married couples everywhere, talked about names for their children. So, in obedience to the angelic command, Elizabeth submits the name of John for her child and immediately she is challenged with a call to return to the familiar: "there is no one among your relatives who has that name." The friends and relatives gathered in celebration wanted to embrace the familiar past. Elizabeth and Zechariah envisioned a glorious future—the advent of the Messiah of God.
As we face our future, may we be willing to leave behind the security and comfort of the familiar and embrace the bright future that God has for us as His people.
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