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Saint Joseph, Our Patron and Protector
Fourth Sunday of Advent (Year A)
Such was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her.” Matthew 1:20
Joseph knew that the penalty for adultery was death by stoning. His heart must have been deeply conflicted. On one hand, the virtues of his betrothed wife, Mary, were abundantly clear. Mary radiated holiness. Impurity was foreign to her Immaculate Heart. Yet she was pregnant, and Joseph was not the father. What should he do?
To protect Mary from public shame, Joseph decided to do what he believed was the most merciful thing—he “decided to divorce her quietly. Such was his intention…” Though little is known about Joseph, this Gospel passage identifies him as “a righteous man.” Many saints, popes, and Church documents highlight his unquestionable sanctity. He was not immaculate and free from sin as was his wife, but God the Father would have chosen a righteous and holy man to be the foster father of the Son of God.
Joseph’s actions reveal his deep faith. As he slept, “the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her.’” The angel explained to him that Isaiah prophesied that the Messiah would be born of a virgin (see Isaiah 7:14) and that Joseph was to take Mary and her unborn Son into his home and care for them. When he awoke, he did as the angel commanded.
Joseph’s dream was no ordinary dream. The Holy Spirit accompanied the angel and instilled the certitude of faith in Joseph’s mind, empowering his will to obey God’s will. Joseph became the father and guardian of the Savior of the World. On December 8, 1847, Pope Pius IX declared Saint Joseph to be the Universal Patron and Protector of the Catholic Church. Just as he protected the Son of God, so he intercedes for us who are members of Christ’s body, the Church.
As our Advent season enters its final week, we are reminded of the role that Jesus’ foster father played not only in the life of the Holy Family, but also about the role Saint Joseph continues to play in the life of the Church and in each one of our lives. His intercessory power from Heaven is great, and we should not hesitate to call upon his prayers, especially when we need protection, struggle with fear, or face some grave challenge.
Reflect today on your personal devotion to Saint Joseph. Ponder, especially, his deep faith and obedience to the will of God as was communicated to him in a dream. Strive to imitate that obedience in your own life, never hesitating to undertake the mission God has given you. Turn to Saint Joseph in prayer and know that his powerful intercession will help protect you and win God’s grace in the areas you need it the most.
Saint Joseph, you were a holy and righteous man, entrusted with the guardianship of the Mother of God and the Son of God. You fulfilled your role faithfully and continue that role from Heaven, protecting all of God’s children through your intercession. Please pray for me, that I will imitate your obedience and will be protected from all sin so as to fulfill the unique role God has given me. Saint Joseph, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You.
Beholding the Will of God
Fourth Sunday of Advent (Year B)
Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” Luke 1:30–33
What an amazing moment! The Archangel Gabriel appeared to the Blessed Virgin Mary and announced to her the Incarnation of the Son of God in her womb. Note that the archangel does not ask for Mary’s permission. Instead, he informs her of what will take place within her: “Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son…”
First of all, the word “Behold” adds great significance to this encounter. What was taking place within her was of the greatest importance and was worth beholding. That word is a command to stop, listen, look, and be in awe of what was taking place. The Blessed Mother followed that command perfectly because her entire life was one continuous beholding of and consent to the will of God. There was no hesitation in her obedience, only a pondering mind and heart that sought to understand God’s will more fully.
As we enter the final week of Advent, we are invited to behold this great mystery of the Incarnation alongside our Blessed Mother. Pondering her faith, obedience, and reverence before this great mystery teaches us how we must respond to the will of God in our own lives.
Though the Incarnation of the Son of God within the Blessed Mother’s womb was a unique event that took place more than 2,000 years ago, the Incarnation continues in us today. Just as the Archangel Gabriel announced the Incarnation to the Blessed Mother, so also, a similar announcement is given to us every day. God wants to be conceived within our souls by grace and to grow as the Christ Child grew in the Blessed Mother’s womb. Unlike Mary, we often hesitate. Our goal must be to form such a habit of obedience that God no longer needs to ask our consent. By forming a habit of obedience, God will be able to instruct us in the many ways that He chooses to dwell within us, and through us, enter the world.
Reflect today on the Blessed Virgin Mary as a model for your own faith life and submission to the will of God. Resolve to form an interior habit of prompt obedience to all God asks of you. Know that when you do so, the Son of God will be conceived within your own heart by grace and will continue to enter our world through you. As this happens, behold the great mystery and privilege you are given. Seek understanding of God’s will as you consent, and ponder the presence of the Savior of the world within you. No gift or mystery is as great as that.
Most holy Mother of God, though young, you consented to the will of God as it was spoken to you by the Archangel Gabriel. Your “Yes” was perfect and your pondering profound. Please pray for me, that I may imitate your obedience to God’s will so that your divine Son will be conceived in my soul by grace and continue to be present to the world through me. Mother Mary, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You.
Attentive to God’s Presence
Fourth Sunday of Advent (Year C)
Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.” Luke 1:39–42
How did Elizabeth know that Mary was “blessed among women?” We are not told that she had an angel appear to her as the Archangel Gabriel appeared to her husband, Zechariah. However, early in Luke’s Gospel we are told that Elizabeth and Zechariah “were righteous in the eyes of God, observing all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly” (Luke 1:6). It was that righteousness and blamelessness before the Lord that opened Elizabeth up to the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Upon hearing Mary’s greeting from a distance, her mind was flooded with divine wisdom as the child in her womb was touched by grace and leapt for joy.
Of that moment, Saint Thomas Aquinas speculates that Saint John the Baptist was delivered from Original Sin. He further speculates, “Perhaps also in this child the use of reason and will was so far accelerated that while yet in his mother’s womb he was able to acknowledge, believe, and consent, whereas in other children we have to wait for these things till they grow older: this again I count as a miraculous result of the divine power” (Summa Theologica 3.27.6).
Elizabeth, as John’s loving and attentive mother, perceived the transformation of her unborn child. Her righteousness and blamelessness before the Lord enabled her to understand the great mystery she and her son were encountering. She went on to say to Mary, “And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” (Luke 1:43). Her motherly intuition, righteousness, and openness to divine truth led her to understand that her young cousin, Mary, was the mother of her Lord.
We must work to become more like Elizabeth. Though the Blessed Mother, Jesus, and even John the Baptist were exceptional, given the Blessed Mother’s immaculate nature, Jesus’ divinity, and John’s sanctity from the womb, Elizabeth is much more like each of us. She was an ordinary woman who lived an extraordinary life of holiness.
Imitating Elizabeth means we foster within us an attentiveness to the presence of God all around us. Just as God was present within Mary’s womb, so also He is present to us in the Blessed Sacrament. He is present by His grace in the hearts of holy people we encounter, through times of prayer, within creation, and in countless other ways. As we strive to become righteous and blameless before God, our eyes of faith will be more open to God’s presence, enabling us to cry out with joy as we perceive Him.
Reflect today on this most holy scene of the Visitation. As you do, seek the intercessions of the Mother of God, Saint John the Baptist, and Saint Elizabeth. Ask them to pray for you to share in the Visitation by sharing in a greater awareness of God’s presence in your life and in our world all around you.
My divine and hidden Lord, Your holiness and presence within Your mother’s womb not only sanctified John the Baptist, it also touched the heart of his mother, Elizabeth. Please give me the grace to live like Elizabeth so that I, too, will perceive Your presence in the Eucharist and in every other way You are present in this world. Jesus, I trust in You.
Fidelity to God’s Eternal Plan
December 17, Advent Weekday
The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham… Thus the total number of generations from Abraham to David is fourteen generations; from David to the Babylonian exile, fourteen generations; from the Babylonian exile to the Messiah, fourteen generations.” Matthew 1:1; 17
This lengthy list of Abraham’s and David’s descendents, leading to Jesus, is much more than a listing of names. It’s an illustration of God’s fidelity to His promises. To Abraham, God promised “All the families of the earth will find blessing in you” (Genesis 12:3). To David, God promised “Your house and your kingdom are firm forever before me; your throne shall be firmly established forever” (2 Samuel 7:16).
Certain divine qualities are revealed in these passages. Unwavering fidelity, continuity through the ages, and God’s eternal plan to bless all people through the descendants of Abraham and David are among them. These qualities are not only important for Scripture study, enabling scholars to better understand the whole of salvation history, they also are important to each one of our lives today.
When God makes a promise, He is faithful to that promise. What promises has God made to you? He has promised the gifts of grace, happiness, holiness, and eternal life to all who become members of His Kingdom. This promise of unwavering fidelity should inspire hope within our hearts, especially when life is difficult. Difficulties can tempt us to despair, anxiety, and fear. Confidence in God’s fidelity will keep us firmly grounded in the certainty of hope that God will never let us down when we remain faithful to Him.
In our fast-paced and ever changing world, continuity and consistency are often absent. Many people change their views based on the latest trends. The barrage of constant news, political and moral opinions, and changing economic and social conditions tempt us to change with the latest ideas. God’s ideas, however, never change. These promises should lead us to establish our lives not on the latest opinions or popular culture, but on the rock-solid principles of faith, as revealed by God.
We are among those who receive blessings promised to “all the families of the earth” through Abraham. Jesus is that final descendent through Whom every good blessing comes. His mission opens the floodgates of grace to all who turn to Him in their need. Don’t ever doubt that perfect and eternal plan of salvation.
Reflect today on God’s perfect fidelity, continuity, and promise of eternal salvation to all who become members of His Kingdom. That Kingdom will remain forever while every other kingdom will pass away. Resolve to remain a full citizen of that Kingdom by being unwaveringly faithful to God’s promises, and you will be blessed now and forever to share in the eternal plan of our saving God.
My faithful God, Your eternal Word never changes. Your perfect plan invites me to share in the salvation promised to all who follow You and become members of Your Kingdom. Grant me the gift of perfect fidelity to You so that I am consistently united to You and always remain a member of Your eternal Kingdom on Earth and in Heaven. Jesus, I trust in You.
Divine Truth vs. Our Imagination
December 18, Advent Weekday
When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home. Matthew 1:24
The human person is a fascinating subject of study. Throughout the ages, countless philosophers, theologians, and social scientists have sought to understand the complexities of human nature. Within the Catholic philosophical tradition, Saint Thomas Aquinas stands out as an influential and trustworthy teacher on this topic.
Aquinas teaches that while a person sleeps, the external senses are inactive. However, sense images within the imagination can still be active to varying degrees, depending on the depth of sleep, leading to the formation of dreams. Human reason is not entirely inactive during sleep, but it operates in a diminished capacity, which often results in dreams being nonsensical. Because the intellect’s judgment is not fully engaged, the content of dreams is generally neither moral nor immoral.
There is, however, another form of dream that transcends the normal and natural type. This is exemplified in Joseph’s dream. In such divinely inspired dreams, like Joseph’s, human reason is fully active—not because of the natural workings of the imagination—but because the dream is a direct result of divine intervention. In Joseph’s case, his reason and intellect were fully engaged, allowing him to comprehend the divine message delivered by the angel. He was presented with a choice, and with his reason fully operative, he freely chose to say “Yes” to God’s communication, thus embracing his role in the divine plan.
This “Yes” to the divine plan is clearly illustrated in the passage quoted above. Upon awakening, Joseph “did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him.” His choice was made during his divinely inspired dream, and his will fully acted upon this decision when he awoke.
Though divinely inspired dreams like Joseph’s are uncommon, they do happen. We, however, do not need to wait for such a dream to imitate Joseph’s obedience to God’s will. Like Joseph, we have been given divine Truth. For us, that Truth comes primarily through Sacred Scripture and the teachings of the Church. The writings of the saints also help clarify all that God speaks to us.
At times, our imaginations can lead us astray, much like in a dream. When we allow irrational thoughts to dictate our actions, we might find ourselves filled with anxiety, worry, and confusion. Imitating Joseph does not mean waiting for a divine dream; rather, it means actively engaging our minds with divine Truth as revealed through the Church and Sacred Scripture. We must then listen to that truth, dismiss irrational thoughts, and use our reason to command our will to act in obedience to God’s will.
Reflect, today, on whether you tend to dwell on irrational ideas or whether you turn your intellect to divine Truth as the basis for what you believe and how you act. Just as Joseph trusted in the Truth revealed to him by the angel and acted upon it, we too must place our trust in the Truth and act accordingly.
My trustworthy Lord, You have revealed to us all Truth as is given to us through the Sacred Scripture and the teachings of the Church. When my imagination leads me astray into obsessive thinking and worrying, please speak to me and help me to hear Your voice. May every decision I make and action I take be in accord with Your Truth. Jesus, I trust in You.
Chastisements of Love
December 19, Advent Weekday
But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall name him John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord.” Luke 1:13–15
Unlike Saint Joseph and the Blessed Virgin Mary, Zechariah doubted the angel of the Lord’s revelation. Our Blessed Mother encountered the Archangel Gabriel at the Annunciation and responded, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38). An angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, and when Joseph awoke, “he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him” (Matthew 1:24).
Today, we are given a similar scene to ponder. Zechariah and Elizabeth are identified as being “righteous in the eyes of God, observing all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly” (Luke 1:6). In other words, Zechariah was a holy man of God. While he was standing at the altar of incense located in the Holy Place, just outside the veil of the Holy of Holies, the Archangel Gabriel appeared to him to announce that his wife had conceived a child in her old age. Gabriel further reveals, “He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb, and he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God” (Luke 1:15–16).
Given Zechariah’s personal holiness and the extraordinary revelation he received from Gabriel, he should have believed what Gabriel said without hesitation. When he failed to do so, Gabriel said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stand before God. I was sent to speak to you and to announce to you this good news. But now you will be speechless and unable to talk until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words…” (Luke 1:19–20).
This chastisement was clearly for Zechariah’s benefit. Despite his lack of faith, God wanted him to participate in His divine plan of salvation. The chastisement was not a punishment in a punitive way. It was meant to instill greater faith in him, and it accomplished its purpose.
Most of us are more like Zechariah than we are like our Blessed Mother and Saint Joseph. Despite our best intentions and attempts to remain faithful to God’s will, we stumble. When that happens, we must see any consequences as a gift of love from God. Chastisements come in many forms. They are meant to wake us up to a greater obedience to God’s will.
Reflect today on any ways that your sins have resulted in consequences. It takes deep humility to admit our sins and take responsibility for their effects. Though it is easy to be angry, to point the finger elsewhere, and to justify our actions, doing so is a rejection of God’s loving chastisement meant for our good. Strive to imitate Zecharaiah by humbly changing when your sin results in consequences so that God can bring good into your life, even from a lack of faith and obedience to His will.
Most merciful Lord, You chastise those whom You love so as to redirect them to Your holy will. When I sin, please help me to accept the consequences with humility and as a motivation to turn back to You in fidelity and love. Please make me holy in imitation of Zechariah, Saint Joseph, and our Blessed Mother. Jesus, I trust in You.
Hail, Full of Grace!
December 20, Advent Weekday
In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.” But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.” Luke 1:26–29
The phrase “full of grace” is a translation of the Greek word kecharitomene. It can be translated more literally as “having been graced” or “you who have been fully graced.” The tense of the word indicates that Mary has been graced by God in a unique and ongoing way, implying that this grace was not a one-time event but something encompassing her entire being and continuing to have effect.
What was the Blessed Virgin Mary’s response to this amazing greeting? She pondered the archangel’s greeting with humility and initially responded with silence and in awe. Gabriel, aware of Mary’s humility in her silence, says, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God…” Gabriel then goes on to tell her she will conceive the Son of God within her womb.
Given her immaculate nature and the fullness of grace within her soul, Mary immediately obeyed the archangel’s command and did not give into fear. Yet her “greatly troubled” heart led her to ongoing pondering and contemplation of all that was said to her.
As we draw closer to the Solemnity of Christmas, we are invited to share in the Blessed Mother’s contemplation of the mystery of the Incarnation. We can be certain that as Gabriel departed from her, her prayerful pondering did not cease. The ongoing fullness of grace within her soul led her to the deepest contemplation of this divine mystery that was humanly possible. Her mind would have penetrated the words spoken to her and perceived the mystery of the Incarnation taking place within her womb in ways that even she could not explain. With the fullness of grace came the fullness of infused knowledge, which is beyond human articulation.
In our lives, we often fail to humbly ponder the profound reality of the Incarnation. We must have a “troubled heart” in the sense of remaining in awe of what God has done for us by taking on our human nature. We must allow Mary’s pondering to become our own so that we enter more deeply into the great mystery we celebrate.
As we prepare for the celebration of Christmas, reflect upon Mary’s pondering mind and heart. Though we will never engage in her depth of contemplative prayer, she is our model. We must accept every divine mystery revealed to us with faith and then grapple with each mystery on a deeper level that can only be accomplished by contemplative prayer. Those who attain this depth of prayer are drawn exceptionally close to God Who uses them to continue the effect of the Incarnation by spiritually giving birth to Christ in their lives.
Immaculate Mother of God, you were called “full of grace” by the Archangel Gabriel. You humbly listened to all that was spoken to you and accepted it with faith, surrender, and humility. Please pray for me, that I will imitate your pondering Immaculate Heart so that I will be better prepared for the great Solemnity of Christmas Day. Mother Mary, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You.
Perceiving the Presence of Our Lord
December 21, Advent Weekday
When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, “Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” Luke 1:41–43
Elizabeth experienced a double blessing. First, she encountered the living presence of the Son of God, coming to her as He dwelled in bodily form in Mary’s womb. Second, Elizabeth was blessed by the fact that the mother of her Lord came to visit her. The presence of both Jesus and His mother blessed Elizabeth.
Elizabeth teaches us how we should respond to God’s presence as He comes to us every day in many forms. We must be attentive to God’s presence. How did Elizabeth know that her Lord and God was living within Mary’s womb? Though her unborn son’s leap of joy in her womb was an indication, that physical movement was not enough. Elizabeth, who was “filled with the Holy Spirit,” also needed Understanding, one of the seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit.
The Gift of Understanding is just that—a gift. We cannot acquire it by our own effort. Only God can bestow it on a mind that is receptive to that gift. Understanding enables us to perceive divine mysteries in ways that are beyond natural human understanding. With the Gift of Understanding, Elizabeth immediately perceived God’s presence within the Child in Mary’s womb.
Because the Mother of God was “full of grace,” Elizabeth also perceived God’s presence living within Mary’s very soul. Mary’s verbal greeting to Elizabeth was most likely an ordinary greeting. However, due to the spiritual Gift of Understanding, Elizabeth immediately understood that Mary was blessed among women and the mother of her Lord.
How attentive are you to God’s presence all around you? First, when you enter a church and appear before the tabernacle, does your soul perceive the presence of God and rejoice? Jesus is just as present in the tabernacle as He was within the womb of His Blessed Mother.
We must also be open to perceiving God’s presence in those all around us. Though we will never encounter a person who is as “full of grace” as was our Blessed Mother, we daily encounter people who are in a state of grace. And even those who are not in a state of grace have God’s indwelling presence within them by the fact that they are made in God’s image.
Reflect today on the holy response Elizabeth made as she encountered her God in the Person of Jesus and His Blessed Mother. As you do, pray for the Gift of Understanding so that you will become more aware of God’s presence in your life. Seek Him in prayer, in the Sacraments, and in the people you come in contact with every day. As you encounter Him, rejoice with Elizabeth and give thanks for such an encounter.
My ever-present Lord, You came to Elizabeth in the womb of Your dear Mother and in Your mother’s Immaculate Heart. You are present today all around me and come to me in countless ways. Please give me the Holy Spirit so that I will grow in the Gift of Understanding, enabling me to more clearly perceive You in my life, in the Sacraments, and in the lives of others. Jesus, I trust in You.
Hungering for God
December 22, Advent Weekday
Mary said: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior… He has cast down the mighty from their thrones and has lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty.” Luke 1:46; 52–53
The last two sentences quoted from our Blessed Mother’s song of praise give us much to ponder. She, who is the Mother of God and full of grace, rejoiced that God “cast the mighty down from their thrones” and “the rich he sent away empty.” It’s understandable that she rejoiced in God Who “has lifted up the lowly” and “has filled the hungry with good things,” but the first two statements might give us pause.
In this context, when people are “mighty” and “rich,” we must understand this to mean those who act in a self-sufficient way, not recognizing their need for God. This tendency is easy to fall into. It is especially tempting for those who are successful in life. Without a deep prayer life and awareness of God’s activity in our lives, we can easily fall into the trap of thinking that we are in charge of our own destiny. When this happens, the most merciful thing God can do for us is to cast us down from our self-sufficient throne and send us away to experience the emptiness of our worldly riches.
The key to happiness in life is not attaining great power or riches. The key is found in humility, by which we recognize our absolute need for and dependence on God. Why? Because as the great Saint Augustine wrote in his book Confessions, “You have formed us for Yourself, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You, oh Lord.”
Would you be happier if you were rich or poor? Powerful or powerless? Famous or unknown? These questions cannot be answered because neither riches nor poverty, power nor powerlessness, fame nor obscurity have anything to do with true happiness. Though each person falling into any of these categories can find happiness, the categories themselves do not determine that happiness. True happiness comes by discovering God within one’s spiritual poverty and hunger.
When we perceive our souls correctly, we will understand Saint Augustine’s famous quote. We will realize that God alone fulfills us, and that doing His will enables us to become who we were created to be. When that discovery happens, we will hunger and thirst for God, and doing the will of God will become the all-consuming desire of our souls. Our God, in His great mercy and love for us, loves such a humble and hungry soul, lavishing spiritual riches upon it.
Reflect today on the intense interior fulfillment our Blessed Mother had. She did not live in a lavish castle with numerous servants. She was not the governor of her town, exercising great temporal power. But she was happy beyond what we can imagine because in her lowliness, humility, and hunger for God, she found perfect satisfaction. As you ponder her happiness, seek her intercession and strive to follow her example, no matter what temporal or worldly situation you find yourself in.
Dearest Mother Mary, you rejoiced and proclaimed God’s greatness, not because of any material or passing blessings God gave you but because of the spiritual richness you possessed within your soul. Please pray for me, that I will discover God’s presence in my life as the true source of fulfillment and will hunger for Him with every desire of my soul. Mother Mary, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You.
Our Identity in Christ
December 23, Advent Weekday
When they came on the eighth day to circumcise the child, they were going to call him Zechariah after his father, but his mother said in reply, “No. He will be called John.” But they answered her, “There is no one among your relatives who has this name.” So they made signs, asking his father what he wished him to be called. He asked for a tablet and wrote, “John is his name,” and all were amazed. Luke 1:59–63
At the time of John the Baptist’s birth, it was customary for family, neighbors, and others within the community to gather for a child’s circumcision on the eighth day. According to Genesis 17:1–14, when God appeared to Abraham and established a covenant with him and his descendants, circumcision was instituted as the external sign of this covenant for every male child on the eighth day. Over time, it also became customary to name the child as part of the ceremony.
The naming of a child in Jewish tradition was significant. A child’s name connected him to his family and continued the family lineage. It was a way of honoring the family member whose name the child was given. Customarily, the firstborn male was named after his father or another significant relative. That’s why the family and friends who gathered for John’s naming and circumcision were surprised when he was not named Zechariah after his father and even more surprised when he was given the name John, a name that no other relative had.
The inclusion of this story in the Gospel narrative indicates that John’s name and its departure from Jewish custom hold special significance. Giving him a name that no other family member had was God’s way of indicating that John’s family, identity, and mission extended beyond his blood relatives. The name John means “God is gracious” or “God has been gracious.” Hence, John’s name points beyond his life to God, the Source of grace. His mission was universal, preparing the way of the Lord for all people. Through John, the gateway of God’s grace and mercy is proclaimed, and Jesus, the source of grace and salvation, enters.
As we reflect on John the Baptist and his unique identity, we should also ponder our own identity in Christ. While family is the first and most important community where we come to know God and learn to love, God also calls us to an identity that transcends our biological family. We receive our most important identity through baptism. Just as circumcision was the sign of the Old Covenant, baptism is the sacrament that initiates us into the New Covenant in Christ.
Through baptism, we take on a new identity and become members of the one, eternal family of God. All who are in a state of grace are brothers and sisters in Christ, with God as our Father and the Blessed Virgin Mary as our spiritual mother.
Reflect today on your identity in Christ. In many cultures, it is customary to receive a new name at baptism, symbolizing this new identity. Ponder the identity given to you through baptism, the identity that defines who you truly are. Embrace this identity with all your heart.
My Lord and God, in You and You alone do I find my true identity. Through my baptism, I have entered into Your family of grace and become a child of Your Father in Heaven. Please help me to fully embrace this Christian identity and dignity, always living as the child of God I am called to be. Jesus, I trust in You.
We Need a Savior
December 24 in the Morning, Advent Weekday
“Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; for 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…” Luke 1:68–69
These words are the beginning of Zechariah’s song of praise, traditionally called the Benedictus, which he prayed as soon as his mouth was opened at the circumcision of his newborn son, John the Baptist. Priests and religious pray this beautiful song in the Liturgy of the Hours every morning. It recounts the whole plan of salvation that God began with Abraham, outlines the role of the prophets, and points to Zechariah’s son, John, as the “prophet of the Most High” who will “go before the Lord to prepare his way, to give his people knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins” (Luke 1:76–77).
As we prepare for the great Solemnity of Christmas Day, Zechariah’s song gives us much to ponder. He begins by blessing God Who “has come to his people and set them free.” Christmas is not only about the Most High God Who took on the form of an infant long ago. It’s also an ongoing coming to us by grace and the Sacraments. That same Most High God continuously descends into our souls as He is made visible to us in the Sacraments, especially the Eucharist. Therefore, each of us must sing Zechariah’s song with the same vigor and conviction every time we attend Mass or encounter God’s presence in our lives.
Why did God come to us? He came to set us free. Christmas must be a time when we acknowledge the ways that our sin oppresses us. We need a Savior. We need freedom. We need forgiveness. The only way to be receptive to our Savior is to humbly acknowledge how much we need Him.
We see this in Zechariah’s song when he speaks of the role his son John would play in the whole plan of salvation. John was to give God’s people “knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins.” Seeing our sins is essential. Our culture tempts us to downplay sin, to see it as normal or even acceptable. Some hold up their sin with great pride. We must avoid being influenced by this tendency and recognize our sin with clarity and honesty.
Understanding the kind of God we have greatly helps us to see our sin and our need for a Savior. Zechariah goes on to say, “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.” Our God is not only compassionate, He offers us a “tender compassion.” He did not come to condemn, but to free us from “darkness and the shadow of death” so that we could be led into the “way of peace.” Deep down, we all want this. The only way to receive it is by listening to John the Baptist’s preaching that we must acknowledge our sins and repent.
Reflect today on the true meaning of Christmas. God became Man to save us from darkness, sin, and death. He came to set us free from all that binds us, oppresses us, and misguides us. He came to free us from the evil one’s lies and the many ways that those lies have permeated our lives and culture. Join with Zechariah today in his song of praise for the gift of salvation, and strive to pray his prayer with the same faith he had.
Blessed are You, Lord my God, for You have come to Your people to set them free. Mighty Savior, as I prepare to celebrate the great Solemnity of Christmas, please help me to see how much I need You in my life. Without You, I am lost and live in darkness and death. Free me, and help me to repent and to receive Your gift of salvation. Jesus, I trust in You.
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