Luke 1:68-79
The world puts us in an illusion that all these
noises and glittering lights on streets are what characterize our preparation
for Christmas. And many have gotten lost to this illusion – even some faithful
people. Remember, Paul has warned us not to sink into such worldly forces as we
are to go through a transformative process of renewal (Romans 12:2), and this
is particularly so during Advent in our preparation.
In our Advent reflections in the last few days,
learning from St. John of the Cross’s teaching on the purgatorial darkness, and,
in connection to the spirit of Las Posadas and Simbang Gabi, we stay away from these worldly lights and noises and
come to this darkness and stillness that St. John of the Cross valued and where
we are in solidarity with those whom Christ calls “the least of my
brothers”(Matthew 25:40). And, this is where we are likely to meet Christ at
his arrival – not where all these lights and noises are. In essence, there is
no Christmas where you cannot find “the least of Christ’s brothers”. We must be
able to distinguish “Christmas” according to the world of commercialism and
consumerism and real Christmas according to the Gospel truth.
With the growing incarnated Christ in her womb, Mary
and her husband, Joseph, have been traveling from Nazareth to Bethlehem. Mary
with her huge tummy riding on a donkey, while Joseph directs the way, as
Bethlehem, known as the city of David, is where his family roots are – because
Joseph draws a family lineage of David (Matthew 1:6-16).
So, now, as we have been preparing the way of
Christ, as John the Baptist has called us to, on the Second Sunday of Advent,
we must be like Abraham, who recognize the three traveling men and therefore
invited them to his house for hospitality (Genesis 18:1-8).
Abraham was in the right place at the right moment
to see them and invite them.
This is how we shall be when we see the incarnated
Christ traveling nearer us, still in Mary’s womb – recognizing Mary and Joseph
traveling. And, as with the tradition of Las Posadas, we welcome them in and
treat them with our loving hospitality, because Christ is with Mary and ready
to come out of her to show himself to us, making a theophany in where we
welcome them.
And, it is a predawn dark hours, when Simbang Gabi
Mass starts, with a joyful anticipation for the light to rise and shine, with
the incarnated Christ to make theophany soon out of Mary, whom we have welcomed
in, as the sun rises on the eastern horizon by Simbang Gabi Mass completes.
This sentiment is well-reflected in Zechariah’s
prophecy for the imminent coming of Christ, known as Benedictus, the canticle of Zechariah (Luke 1:69-79). Zechariah is the
husband of Elizabeth, who is relative to Mary. John the Baptist was born to
Elizabeth and Zechariah.
Blessed
be the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has visited and brought redemption to
his people.
He
has raised up a horn for our salvation within the house of David his servant, even
as he promised through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old: salvation
from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us, to show mercy to our
fathers and to be mindful of his holy covenant and of the oath he swore to Abraham
our father, and to grant us that, rescued from the hand of enemies, without
fear we might worship him in holiness and righteousness before him all our
days.
And
you, child, will be called prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the
Lord to prepare his ways, to give his people knowledge of salvation through the
forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our Gods by which the
daybreak from on high will visit us to shine on those who sit in darkness and
death’s shadow, to guide our feet into the path of peace.
Zechariah had been a childless priest. His wife was
Elizabeth, a relative of Mary. After many years of childlessness, one day,
Angel Gabriel announced to Zechariah of Elizabeth’s conception. However, he did
not believe the announcement. So, he has made unable to speak. And, Elizabeth
conceived with John the Baptist at her old age. In the meantime, Angel Gabriel
also announced to Mary of her virgin conception of Jesus, who is the Son of
God. At the same time, Gabriel also told Mary of Elizabeth’s pregnancy. Though
Mary was somewhat anxious of her virgin pregnancy, she was so happy to have
learned of Elizabeth’s pregnancy. So, she visited her and cared for her for
three months (Luke 1:5-56).
Before Jesus, John the Baptist was born to Zechariah
and Elizabeth and was given name “John” upon his circumcision. And, Zechariah
was made able to speak again and filled with the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:57-67).
Then, Zechariah spoke his prophecy for Christ’s
birth in the above canticle.
To Zechariah and Elizabeth, in a way, these many
years of childlessness were a long period of “darkness”, which is disgrace of
being barren (Luke 1:25; Genesis 30:23). But, with the conception of John the
Baptist in Elizabeth, this “darkness” of disgrace was removed. And, because he
was filled with the Holy Spirit, Zechariah sensed that the birth of his son,
John the Baptist, is a sure sign of the nearness of the fulfillment of the
Messianic coming. So, he prophesized that the arrival of Christ, the Messiah,
is near in the canticle, Benedictus.
So, Zechariah opens his canticle with these words:
Benedictus
Dominus Deus Israel, quia visitavit, et fecit redemptionem plebis suae..(
Blessed be the Lord, the God of
Israel, for he has visited and brought redemption to his people)
(Luke 1:68).
With these words to bless God, Zechariah, the priest
recognizes the redemption of the Israelites by God of Israel, as prophesized in
Isaiah 43, is coming near, and it will be done by Christ. And, Zechariah, in
his prophetic canticle, recognizes that this Christ to redeem Israel comes as a
child (Luke 1:76), and his coming as the daybreak from heaven above out of God’s
mercy (Luke 1:77-78; cf Psalm 19:4-9), as to echo the sun of justice,
prophesized Christ in his return to judge (Malachi 3:20/4:2 in Protestant
versions, such as NIV).
Remember, Christ shines as the great light in darkness (Isaiah 9:1), as he is, indeed, the light of the world for us to walk in the safe path of redemption (John 8:12).
So, as the rising sun begins to lighten the world, Christ the light shines on those who have kept in darkness to be redeemed so that they can walk on the path of peace.
Just as how Simbang
Gabi Mass goes, starting while it was dark before the dawn. But the
daybreak comes to begin spelling out the darkness by the time this Christmas
novena Mass ends.
Yes, Christ is about to break the darkness, as he is ready to break out of the darkness within Mary’s womb.
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