"Consecrated to God from the womb"

Today’s readings present us with the miraculous conceptions of two men who would be especially dedicated to God “from the womb”: Samson, the famous defender of Israel (Judges 13:2-7, 24-25a), and John the Baptist (Luke 1:5-25).

There are many lessons for us to take from these readings.

One is that conception is a gift from God: not a medical condition.

Another is that children in the womb are sacred to God.

A third is the value of dedicating children to God from the womb, especially in the sense of raising them in an environment of Christian love, devotion, and truth from the very beginning.

Parents or not, may you and I always pray to God that we may contribute to an environment of Christian love, devotion, and truth at all times and in all places, for the sake of the world and for the sake of the children among us.