Note: On Tuesdays, you can find me at Your Daily Tripod, owned by my friend TonyD. A longer version of the post below appears there.
(Zechariah prophesied): “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 God by which the daybreak from on high will visit sto shine on those who sit in darkness and death’s shadow,to guide our feet into the path of peace.” (Luke 1:76-79, NABRE)
It was a tall order, that prophesy Zechariah had for his infant son. What child could possibly be expected to live up to such promise, to provide knowledge of salvation and God’s tender mercy in a way that people would understand?
Tonight and tomorrow, we will hear about the birth of a child whose coming was foretold to David, a direct descendant who would both be a son to God and who would guarantee the endurance of David’s house. Who could possibly be expected to live up to such promises?
And then there’s each and every one of us—people who desire to love God and who want to be with Him forever, but who are also flawed human beings who struggle with pride, envy, anger and all the rest. How could any of us possibly emulate that prophesy Zechariah had for John, to prepare the way of the Lord?
And yet, we do, in small ways and large, each and every day. We do it when we find a spark of Jesus in that relative who works our nerve at family gatherings. We do it when we carve out prayer time amid a week of travel and obligations. We do it when we go to Mass… even if everyone else in the house thinks it’s more important to sleep in after an exhausting round of gift opening and revelry.
Never sell short your ability and opportunity to give people knowledge of Him. Never. They’re watching, and so is He.
