Today’s Catholic Reflection
In the book of Judges, Manoah and his wife receive an unexpected visit from an angel. She has been unable to have children, but the angel brings good news. She will conceive and bear a son. The angel instructs her to avoid wine and unclean food during her pregnancy. This child will be dedicated to God and will help deliver Israel from the Philistines. When the boy is born, they name him Samson, and he grows up blessed by the Lord.
In the Gospel of Luke, Zechariah, a priest, and his wife Elizabeth are both elderly and childless. While Zechariah is serving in the temple, the angel Gabriel visits him. The angel tells him that Elizabeth will bear a son named John. This child will be filled with the Holy Spirit and prepare people for the Lord. Zechariah doubts the message because of their age, resulting in his temporary silence. After his service, he returns home, and Elizabeth conceives, feeling grateful for being relieved of her shame.