Today is John the Baptist’s birthday, at least according to the church calendar.  He was six months younger than Jesus, so when the church assigned Jesus’ birthday to December 25, John was given June 24.  I don’t know why it isn’t the 25^th.  Since he was likely born somewhere between 7 BC and 4 BC he would now be about 2020 years old.

On Facebook, I requested recipes for locusts and wild honey.  Some bees are making their home in a hole in old pine stump in my front yard, but no lead on locusts.

John was a surprising late birth to Elizabeth and Zechariah.  When the angel appeared to Zechariah in the temple, he asked, “How shall I know this?   I am an old man and my wife is advanced in years.”  And for not readily believing Gabriel, who had been sent from God to bring him this good news, Zechariah was unable to speak until the child was born.

Elizabeth stayed home the first five months of her pregnancy, “Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.”  However, the next month she had a visit from her much younger relative, Mary, who herself was pregnant following a visit from Gabriel.

Thus, God set in motion our salvation.  How else shall we respond except to leap for joy and magnify the Lord?

Almighty God, grant that we may know this salvation and serve You in holiness and righteousness all the days of our life.