January 26th - Reflection

Luke 1:67-79 (NRSV)
Christ, the light dawning

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."

Reflection
Jesus comes to save us in a moral and spiritual, yet physical sense too. Jesus doesn't come to save us in a political sense. The political powers of this world are, after all, created creatures of God. There is so much more to salvation that gaining the political power of the world.

This can be one sin we fall into. We can put too much emphasis on the world power that we lose focus of the real power. Power found only in God. God who sent Jesus into this world to save us. To save us individually and as a group. God comes to save his people. God breaks through the darkness of sin and death and guides us in the way of peace. Real peace. Peace with God and one another in the knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of sin. This is the mercy of God in Christ Jesus. This is the power! Thanks be to God!

Prayer
Lord guide my feet in your true path and way. Teach me when I want to stray into my own selfishness and lust for the wrong kind of power in this world. --- Amen