December 24th - Reflection

Luke 1:67-80 (NRSV)
The song of Zechariah

Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke this prophecy:
"Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
for he has looked favorably on his people and redeemed them.
He has raised up a mighty savior for us
in the house of his servant David,

as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,
that we would be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us.
Thus he has shown the mercy promised to our ancestors,
and has remembered his holy covenant,
the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham,
to grant us that we, being rescued from the hands of our enemies,
might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness
before him all our days.
And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
to give knowledge of salvation to his people
by the forgiveness of their sins.
By the tender mercy of our God,
the dawn from on high will break upon us,
to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace."

The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day he appeared publicly to Israel.

Reflection
A father looks at his son and is so proud. I know  the feeling. You look and wonder. And then when that life comes to fruition and grows, you are proud all over again. Through all the stages of the son's life, the father sees himself and also a new creation. A new creation that is unique and carefully formed by God for a calling in life. A calling that only the son could have. And the father is proud all over again. A father looks at his son and is so proud.

Likewise Zechariah had a clue of what the calling of his son John would be. God has spoken to Zechariah. Zechariah surely was proud of John. Knowing that John would be the prophet of the Most High. John would plant the seeds in the midst of the people that salvation was on the doorstep. That forgiveness of sins was around the corner, from God through Jesus. John would see the tender mercy of God in flesh and the beginning of a new creation that would cast a new light on all people. John would be the one to introduce the path our feet would start in baptism.

Likewise our Father has brought us into this world. Placed us and called us to announce that Jesus has come to the world and personally to you and me. Jesus has set up shop in our hearts that he may work in and through each of us. Jesus set up shop in the hearts of sinners to announce to the world salvation, not through good works, but through what Jesus has already done for us. You and I are additionally called to announce to those God gives to us day by day that a new dawn is available to anyone who chooses to believe and be baptized. A new creation could grow in their hearts also and bring forth new life. Jesus is at the door. Either let him in or take the calling to go out and play. Jesus is ready for you. Have faith...it will be a wondrous joy beyond belief. Thanks be to God!

Prayer
Lord, I hear a knock at the door. "Can Billy come out to play?" You bet! I'll be right down. --- Amen