The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today resonate with our mission at Christmas time to enliven our environment through practice of mercy and support for others.
The reading from the Prophet Malachi heralds the Coming Messenger
* [3:1] My messenger…before me: Mt 11:10 applies these words to John the Baptist; Mt 11:14 further identifies John as Elijah (see Mal 3:23). Some take God’s messenger in v. 1a to be a person distinct from “the lord” and “the messenger of the covenant” in v. 1b; others hold that they are one and the same person. Some consider “the lord” and “the messenger of the covenant” to be divine, while others hold that in the text’s literal sense he is a messianic earthly ruler. (Malachi, CHAPTER 3 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 25 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. (Psalms, PSALM 25 | USCCB, n.d.)
The Gospel of Luke presents the Birth of John the Baptist
* [1:59] The practice of Palestinian Judaism at this time was to name the child at birth; moreover, though naming a male child after the father is not completely unknown, the usual practice was to name the child after the grandfather (see Lk 1:61). The naming of the child John and Zechariah’s recovery from his loss of speech should be understood as fulfilling the angel’s announcement to Zechariah in Lk 1:13, 20. (Luke, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB, n.d.)
Elvin Cardoso, S.J. raises an important question for us to consider: Who is Jesus for us?
The life of John the Baptist teaches us to be humble and acknowledge ourselves as instruments of God to fulfill our missions. John never claimed to be the Messiah, but he was content with being the voice that cried out in the wilderness to prepare the way for the Lord. As Saint Ambrose says, “We should not boast about being called sons of God but instead, acknowledge His grace and our human nature.” Humility will help us prepare ourselves appropriately and seek the glory of God. In today's world, where people often focus on material things and worldly pleasures, it is essential to cultivate the virtues of humility, prayer, and intimacy with God. We must prepare ourselves to welcome Jesus into our lives and be ready to receive Him with open hearts. This Christmas, let us remember the message of John the Baptist and prepare ourselves to receive the Lord with joy and humility. (Cardoso, 2023)
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) (Schwager, 2021)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Luke 1:57-66 comments that God’s dreams didn’t reach complete fulfillment with Zechariah’s choice—or when Jesus died and rose. They are still coming true through the choices we make every day. Our decisions may feel insignificant, and we may be puzzled by how they will affect anything. But every choice affects us and the people around us. Every choice affects the future. Even the least “significant” choices may end up having world-changing consequences!
Today, think about the decisions you are facing, especially as Christmas approaches. Perhaps you have to decide whether to make an extra effort to reach out to a loved one. Perhaps the coming new year offers an opportunity to heal a wounded relationship or share the good news of Christ with a friend. God’s dreams can come true through you, one choice at a time.
“Praise to you, Lord, for inviting me to use even my smallest choices to advance your heavenly plans!” (Meditation on Luke 1:57-66, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler describes the judgement and purification in Malachi as being like gold in a crucible. Elizabeth voices the name to be given to her son and Zechariah concurs. Friar Jude notes the meaning in the name of John is “God is merciful”
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, encourages us to sit with our breathing as a way to participate in the mystery of incarnation.
Every time you take in a breath, you are repeating the pattern of taking spirit into matter, and thus repeating God’s creation of humankind (in Hebrew, ‘adam).
And every time you breathe out, you are repeating the pattern of returning spirit to the material universe. In a way, every exhalation is a “little dying” as we pay the price of inspiriting the world.
Your very breathing models your entire vocation as a human being. You are an incarnation, like Christ, of matter and spirit operating as one. This, more than anything we believe or accomplish, is how all of us—either knowingly and joyfully, or not—continue the mystery of incarnation in space and time. (Rohr, 2023)
We ponder the mercy of God as we consider the connection of the mission of John the Baptist to our Baptismal anointing as priest, prophet, and leader.
References
Cardoso, E. (2023, December 23). Daily Reflection Of Creighton University's Online Ministries. Online Ministries. Retrieved December 23, 2023, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/122323.html
Luke, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved December 23, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/1?
Malachi, CHAPTER 3 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved December 23, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/malachi/3?1
Meditation on Luke 1:57-66. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved December 23, 2023, from https://wau.org/meditations/2023/12/23/854518/
Psalms, PSALM 25 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved December 23, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/25?4
Rohr, R. (2023, December 23). Incarnation: Weekly Summary — Center for Action and Contemplation. Richard Rohr. Retrieved December 23, 2023, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/incarnation-weekly-summary/
Schwager, D. (2021, September 22). What Then Will This Child Be? Daily Scripture net. Retrieved December 23, 2023, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2023&date=dec23
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