The birth of St John the Baptist is filled with much anticipation. The angel Gabriel appeared to his elderly father, Zechariah, in the holiest of places, and foretold of his birth. Not long after this divine visitation, his elderly and barren mother conceived him.

The neighbours and relations shared Zechariah and Elizabeth's joy at the birth of St John. They saw it as a sign of God's "faithful love'' to an elderly couple who had longed and prayed for a child. But they were puzzled as to why Zechariah would want to name the child, "John'', when no one in their family "has that name''! It was in obedience to Gabriel's instruction that Zechariah wrote in a tablet, "His name is John''. The crowd were "astonished''. And to add to their amazement - Zechariah's "power of speech'' returned to him. He had been silenced for his disbelief of Gabriel's pronouncement of St John's birth. At this, the crowd "were filled with awe''.

The nativity of St John was an affair much "talked about''. Everyone who heard of it "treasured it in their hearts''. They also wondered, "What will this child turn out to be?'' Luke 1:66 gives us a glimpse, saying, "indeed the hand of the Lord was with him'' and that as St John "grew up ... his spirit grew strong.''

We celebrate the Nativity of St John today, with the desire to bring others back to God (v16) by talking about the compassion of God.