The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to openness to awe as we contemplate the action of God in our journey.
The Reading from the Book of Judges proclaims The Birth of Samson.
* [13:2] The clan of the Danites: before the migration described in chap. 18 the tribe of Dan occupied a small territory west of Benjamin, adjacent to the Philistine plain; see note on 3:3.
* [13:5] A nazirite for God: according to the rules for nazirites set forth in Nm 6:2–8, Samson’s vows would have obliged him to abstain from wine and other products of the vine and to keep his hair uncut. As the story that follows shows, the last requirement proved especially fateful in Samson’s life. (Judges, CHAPTER 13 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 71 celebrates hope learned from a lifetime’s experience of God.
* [Psalm 71] A lament of an old person (Ps 71:9, 18) whose afflictions are interpreted by enemies as a divine judgment (Ps 71:11). The first part of the Psalm pleads for help (Ps 71:1–4) on the basis of a hope learned from a lifetime’s experience of God; the second part describes the menace (Ps 71:9–13) yet remains buoyant (Ps 71:14–16); the third develops the theme of hope and praise. (Psalms, PSALM 71 | USCCB, n.d.)
The Gospel of Luke proclaims the announcement of the Birth of John the Baptist.
* [1:5] In the days of Herod, King of Judea: Luke relates the story of salvation history to events in contemporary world history. Here and in Lk 3:1–2 he connects his narrative with events in Palestinian history; in Lk 2:1–2 and Lk 3:1 he casts the Jesus story in the light of events of Roman history. Herod the Great, the son of the Idumean Antipater, was declared “King of Judea” by the Roman Senate in 40 B.C., but became the undisputed ruler of Palestine only in 37 B.C. He continued as king until his death in 4 B.C. Priestly division of Abijah: a reference to the eighth of the twenty-four divisions of priests who, for a week at a time, twice a year, served in the Jerusalem temple.
* [1:7] They had no child: though childlessness was looked upon in contemporaneous Judaism as a curse or punishment for sin, it is intended here to present Elizabeth in a situation similar to that of some of the great mothers of important Old Testament figures: Sarah (Gn 15:3; 16:1); Rebekah (Gn 25:21); Rachel (Gn 29:31; 30:1); the mother of Samson and wife of Manoah (Jgs 13:2–3); Hannah (1 Sm 1:2).
* [1:13] Do not be afraid: a stereotyped Old Testament phrase spoken to reassure the recipient of a heavenly vision (Gn 15:1; Jos 1:9; Dn 10:12, 19 and elsewhere in Lk 1:30; 2:10). You shall name him John: the name means “Yahweh has shown favor,” an indication of John’s role in salvation history.
* [1:15] He will drink neither wine nor strong drink: like Samson (Jgs 13:4–5) and Samuel (1 Sm 1:11 LXX and 4QSama), John is to be consecrated by Nazirite vow and set apart for the Lord’s service.
* [1:17] He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah: John is to be the messenger sent before Yahweh, as described in Mal 3:1–2. He is cast, moreover, in the role of the Old Testament fiery reformer, the prophet Elijah, who according to Mal 3:23 (Mal 4:5) is sent before “the great and terrible day of the Lord comes.”
* [1:19] I am Gabriel: “the angel of the Lord” is identified as Gabriel, the angel who in Dn 9:20–25 announces the seventy weeks of years and the coming of an anointed one, a prince. By alluding to Old Testament themes in Lk 1:17, 19 such as the coming of the day of the Lord and the dawning of the messianic era, Luke is presenting his interpretation of the significance of the births of John and Jesus.
* [1:20] You will be speechless and unable to talk: Zechariah’s becoming mute is the sign given in response to his question in v. 18. When Mary asks a similar question in Lk 1:34, unlike Zechariah who was punished for his doubt, she, in spite of her doubt, is praised and reassured (Lk 1:35–37). (Luke, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB, n.d.)
Laura Roost comments how Revolution of the Heart: The Dorothy Day Story shows ways a life’s paths and a life’s waiting seem disconnected but later can be seen to hold to God’s plan in ways unexpected by Dorothy Day herself – as is so often the case for each of us. Dorothy Day moving to Chicago during the time in her life when she was learning to love reading, and specifically reading Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle while observing Chicago’s workers may have seemed random coincidence but later can be seen as a part of her faith path, especially in later living out the Two Feet of Love in Action: charitable works and social justice [a call for all of us created by love, for love, and to love]. Similarly, her Feast of the Immaculate Conception prayer for a path forward and two days later being introduced to Peter Maurin, who was able to share Church teachings on social justice, led to the creation of The Catholic Worker. The way she was able to connect these events in an always growing prayer life shows us also the importance of growth, of waiting for growth in trust, and in listening to God to guide our action gives us deeper ways to continue sitting in this time of waiting in the already and not yet of Advent.
May we pray to love our unexpected God of refuge more dearly, to grow in love for others and remember how they, too, are personally loved by our immense God, and may we ask for the courage to trust in God rather than in ourselves – including trusting in God’s timing and teaching while seeking God’s will as we live out our own two feet of love in action in a way that responds to and partners with our God in depending relationship as we let go of our attempts to limit God through our control. (Roost, 2025)
Don Schwager quotes “Born for prophecy - murdered for truth,” by Maximus of Turin (died between 408-423 AD).
"I do not know what is the most important thing that we should preach - that he [John the Baptist] was wonderfully born or more wonderfully slain - for he was born as a prophecy and murdered for truth. By his birth he announced the coming of the Savior, and by his death he condemned the incest of Herod (Matthew 14:3-12). This holy and righteous man, who was born in an uncommon way as the result of a promise, merited from God that he should depart this world by an uncommon death - that he should by confessing the Lord lay aside his body, which he had received as a gift from the Lord. Therefore John did everything by the will of God, since he was born and died for the sake of God's work." (excerpt from SERMON 5.1-.2) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Luke 1:5-25 comments that “Why not now?” or “Why not me?” can be a constant refrain in our dialogue with the Lord. Perhaps we have given up hope that our situation will ever change, and we doubt that God will ever fulfill the desires of our heart.
The saying goes, “If you want to grow in patience, God will give you an opportunity to practice it.” So today, try to practice waiting with hope and anticipation, not only for what you want to receive from God, but also waiting for God himself, who will be born for you in Bethlehem.
“Jesus, Savior of the world, teach me to wait in hopeful anticipation.” (Meditation on Luke 1:5-25, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments that Judges presents the story of the annunciation made about the birth of a Nazarite, dedicated to the Lord, named as Samson. In the Gospel, Luke presents the annunciation story for John the Baptist. Luke cites the Kings and leaders of the time as would be known by good citizens. Zechariah is frightened by the unusual vision informing him of a child to be named John, “God is merciful”, and who will be a Nazarite. The angel confirms his prayers have been answered. Friar Jude comments that because Zechariah is not fully believing the power of his prayer, he is to be silent to contemplate the mystery until his son is born.
Fr. Mike Schmitz is joined by renowned Catholic Bible expert Jeff Cavins, to talk about The Great Adventure Bible Timeline, their personal experiences with the Bible, and what it means to live life through the lens of Scripture.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, insists we thrive when we understand our rightful place in the cosmic order. Fr. Richard introduces Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel (1907–1972), who is known for his prophetic work for justice, also modeled a commitment to “radical amazement”.
Awe is an intuition for the dignity of all things, a realization that things not only are what they are but also stand, however remotely, for something supreme. Awe is a sense for the … mystery beyond all things. It enables us … to sense in small things the beginning of infinite significance, to sense the ultimate in the common and the simple; to feel in the rush of the passing the stillness of the eternal. What we cannot comprehend by analysis, we become aware of in awe. (Rohr, n.d.)
We implore the consolation of the Spirit when we are losing patience with the timeframe in God’s plan.
References
Judges, CHAPTER 13 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved December 19, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/judges/13?2
Luke, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved December 19, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/1?5
Meditation on Luke 1:5-25. (n.d.). Word Among Us. Retrieved December 19, 2025, from https://wau.org/meditations/2025/12/18/1447443/
Psalms, PSALM 71 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved December 19, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/71?3
Rohr, R. (n.d.). Daily Meditations — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved December 19, 2025, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/rightful-and-radical-amazement/
Roost, L. (2025, December 19). Daily Reflection December 19, 2025 | Creighton Online Ministries. Creighton Online Ministries. Retrieved December 19, 2025, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-december-19-2025
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Many Will Rejoice at His Birth. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved December 19, 2025, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/
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