The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to reflect on the Promise, so important in the Hebrew Covenant, that the mercy of God, as declared by John the Baptist, becomes the Word made flesh celebrated at Christmas.
Sharing the mission of mercy
The reading from the Prophet Malachi declares the Coming Messenger.
* [3:23] Elijah: taken up in a whirlwind, according to 2 Kgs 2:11. Here his return seems to be foretold. A Jewish tradition interpreted this literally; the gospels saw Elijah in the person of John the Baptist (Mt 11:13–14; 17:10–13; Mk 9:9–13).1
Psalm 25 is a prayer for Guidance and for Deliverance.
* [Psalm 25] A lament. Each verse begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Such acrostic Psalms are often a series of statements only loosely connected. The psalmist mixes ardent pleas (Ps 25:1–2, 16–22) with expressions of confidence in God who forgives and guides.2
In the Gospel of Luke, the Birth of John the Baptist is described.
* [1:57–66] The birth and circumcision of John above all emphasize John’s incorporation into the people of Israel by the sign of the covenant (Gn 17:1–12). The narrative of John’s circumcision also prepares the way for the subsequent description of the circumcision of Jesus in Lk 2:21. At the beginning of his two-volume work Luke shows those who play crucial roles in the inauguration of Christianity to be wholly a part of the people of Israel. At the end of the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 21:20; 22:3; 23:6–9; 24:14–16; 26:2–8, 22–23) he will argue that Christianity is the direct descendant of Pharisaic Judaism.3
Carol Zuegner comments that suddenly, there will come to the temple the Lord whom you seek.” Suddenly, which to her means maybe not when she expects the Lord or when she is fully prepared. God knows we are human and frail and will stray from what we know we should be doing. He sends prophets as reminders, to tell us to be ready.
We have to remember to trust in God and to be ready whenever God calls upon us. Perhaps it won’t be what we expect. We need to prepare, to be ready. We can do that by opening our hearts to God, to be ready for life’s joys and sorrows. We know God will be with us. We have to learn to trust that God’s will might be revealed in unexpected ways. The path might not be straight. It might not be easy, but the path is there for us, waiting.4
Don Schwager quotes “The parallels between John and Jesus,” by Ephrem the Syrian (306-373 AD).
"The elderly Elizabeth gave birth to the last of the prophets, and Mary, a young girl, to the Lord of the angels. The daughter of Aaron gave birth to the voice in the desert (Isaiah 63:9), but the daughter of David to the strong God of the earth. The barren one gave birth to him who remits sins, but the Virgin gave birth to him who takes them away (John 1:29). Elizabeth gave birth to him who reconciled people through repentance, but Mary gave birth to him who purified the lands of uncleanness. The elder one lit a lamp in the house of Jacob, his father, for this lamp itself was John (John 5:35), while the younger one lit the Sun of Justice (Malachi 4:2) for all the nations. The angel announced to Zechariah, so that the slain one would proclaim the crucified one and that the hated one would proclaim the envied one. He who was to baptize with water would proclaim him who would baptize with fire and with the Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:11). The light, which was not obscure, would proclaim the Sun of Justice. The one filled with the Spirit would proclaim concerning him who gives the Spirit. The priest calling with the trumpet would proclaim concerning the one who is to come at the sound of the trumpet at the end. The voice would proclaim concerning the Word, and the one who saw the dove would proclaim concerning him upon whom the dove rested, like the lightning before the thunder." (excerpt from COMMENTARY ON TATIAN'S DIATESSARON 1.31)5
The Word Among Us Meditation on Luke 1:57-66 asks what can we learn from Elizabeth’s example? That when God makes clear the path he wants us to take, we should take it—even if it makes the people around us uncomfortable or we face pressure to go along with their expectations.
God has a good and unique plan for each one of us. Even when his plan unfolds in unexpected ways, as it did for Elizabeth, we can trust that it is always a good one (Jeremiah 29:11). Elizabeth never could have predicted the adventure her life would turn out to be. She probably didn’t even live to see all the fruits of her obedience. But she rejoiced in God’s goodness to her, and she remained faithful to his commands. That’s all that mattered to her. God is writing a story for your life too, and every bold response you offer him allows him to work it out more fully. “Jesus, help me to follow you even when others don’t understand.”6
Friar Jude Winkler explains the connection of Elijah to heaven and his role in announcing the Presence of the Lord. The tradition of Israel is observed in the circumcision of Zachariah's son but not in his naming. Friar Jude notes that the mission of the Baptist is carried in his name, “God is merciful.”
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, counts the German Jesuit Karl Rahner (1904–1984) as an influential theologian in his life. Here Rahner reflects on the Incarnation and the meaning of Christmas.
Now God’s self [as Jesus] is on our very earth, where he is no better off than we and where he receives no special privileges, but our every fate: hunger, weariness, enmity, mortal terror and a wretched death. That the infinity of God should take upon itself human narrowness, that bliss should accept the mortal sorrow of the earth, that life should take on death—this is the most unlikely truth. But only this—the obscure light of faith—makes our nights bright, only this makes them holy.7
Father Richard celebrates the Incarnation as God’s positive and affirming “I Love You” to all creation.
Henceforth humanity has the right to know that it is good to be human, good to live on this earth, good to have a body, because God in Jesus chose and said “yes” to this planet and this humanity. As we Franciscans have said, “Incarnation is already Redemption.” The problem is solved. Now go and utterly enjoy all remaining days. Not only is it “always Advent,” but every day can now be Christmas because the one we thought we were just waiting for has come once and for all.7
Our baptismal consecration as “priest, prophet, and king” calls us to share our journey toward the truth and beauty of relationship with God.
References
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