Readings: Micah 5:1-4a; Psalm 80; Hebrews 10:5-10; Luke 1:39-45
At the moment the sound of Mary’s greeting reached Elizabeth ears, the infant in her womb leaped for joy.
Folowing today’s story of Mary’s visitation of Elizabeth from Luke’s Gospel is the story of the birth of John the Baptist. Within this narrative is Zachariah’s canticle, the prophetic proclamation of their son.Likely the co-joining of two early Jewish-Christian hymns.
Then Zechariah his father, filled with the Holy Spirit, prophesied, saying: (…as when Elizabeth said, “Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
Zachariah first praises God for what God has done in Jesus for Israel:
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel;
he has come to his people and set them free.He has raised up for us a mighty savior,
born of the house of his servant David.Through his holy prophets, he promised of old
that he would save us from our enemies,
from the hands of all who hate us.He promised to show mercy to our fathers
and to remember his holy covenant.This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham:
to set us free from the hands of our enemies,
free to worship him without fear,holy and righteous in his sight all the days of our life.
Then foretells the future role of John the Baptist:
You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High;
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,to give his people knowledge of salvation
by the forgiveness of their sins.Finally, it proclaims the role of Jesus:
In the tender compassion of our God
the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death,
and to guide our feet into the way of peace.– Luke 1: 68-79
What stands out for me in this passage is that we gain knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of our sins. The gift of salvation is preceded by the gift of forgiveness. Being forgiven makes salvation possible. In both cases, forgiveness and salvation, are gifts, something we cannot earn. Gifts are something that can only be received, but receive them we must. These gifts are the expression of God’s love. Forgiveness is the unmerited gift that requires only our receptiveness. Our openness to receive forgiveness is made possible in the belief in God’s unconditional love for us. Each one requires the other simultaneously. There is no forgiveness without the acceptance of God’s love, and there is no experience of God’s love without forgiveness.
What can open us up for the dual gifts of forgiveness and salvation? Simply this, accept that “something infinite, immortal, mysterious, loving, and alive abides in me, and it is from this light that I bow toward that which is infinite, immortal, mysterious, loving, and alive in you.” If I can love the brother whom I can see, then I can love the God I cannot see. (Cf 1 John 4:20) Can we see all others as deserving of all our love? When I can unconditionally love others, then I can see that I am deserving of all God’s love. And if I can accept that I am deserving of all God’s love then forgiveness is a fore drawn conclusion. It is not about what I can merit, rather it is forgiving as I am forgiven and loving as I am loved. This is not as easy as it sounds.
There is urgency to this moment. We must choose to love and to treat others as a divine manifestation, and not as an “it” which allows us to use, ignore, or vilify others. To treat others as things is the manifestation of sin. By loving others and treating them with dignity, we allow ourselves love and dignity and this could transform our lives, others, and the world. By accepting the call to love and forgive is what can keep the world growing in faith and builds the Kingdom of God. Refusing to grow is a sin. (St. Gregory of Nyssa c. 335-c. 394)
Can you accept our baptismal call to be a prophet? Did you know that the reason you were given a candle at you baptism was so that you would carry the light of Christ into the world as a prophet? And…
You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High;
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,
to give his people knowledge of salvation
by the forgiveness of their sins.
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