December
17

“John is His Name”

And° to Elizabeth was fulfilled the time° that she should bring forth; and she gave birth to a son. And her neighbors and kinsfolk heard that the Lord had magnified His mercy with her, and they rejoiced with her. And it came to pass that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the young child, and they called him by the name of his father, Zacharias. And his mother answered and said, Not so, but he shall be called John. And they said to her, There is no one of thy kinsfolk who is called by this name. And° they beckoned to his father, what he would have him called. And he asked for a tablet, and wrote, saying, John is his name; and they all marveled. And° immediately his mouth was opened, and his tongue, and he spoke, blessing God. And fear came on all who dwelt around them; and all these sayings were talked of in all° the hill-country of Judea. And all who heard laid them up in their hearts, saying, Who then shall this little child be? And the hand of the Lord was with him. (Luke 1:57–66)

In order that the External Man may be reduced into order, it must be made subordinate to the Internal Man, and it is made subordinate when it obeys. So far as this is effected, so far the External Man also is wise. This is meant by the old man with its evil affections needing to die in order that the man may become a new creature. (Arcana Cœlestia 9708)

A few words shall be said about what the good of faith is, and what the truth of faith. Everything of the church is called the “good of faith,” that has to do with life and use from what the doctrine of faith of the church teaches; in a word everything that has to do with willing it and doing it from obedience; for the truths of faith of the church become goods by willing and doing them. (Arcana Cœlestia 9230:2)

Compliance is most grateful [to the Lord], for compliance is the very good itself of faith and charity. (Arcana Cœlestia 7161:1)

previous		next