By Stephen Langsianmunga Malneu csc –
Readings: 2Sam 7:1-5; 8b-12, 14a, 16; Lk 1: 67-79
On the eve of Christmas, the reading is an invitation to open our minds and hearts and look deeply for God’s action in our lives and in the lives of the people because God is with us!
In the gospel, we come across Benedictus, which is a song of Zechariah. He praises God for his faithfulness to the covenant he had established with his people. The promised Messiah would be born, a God who is with us through divine incarnation. The first part of the Benedictus highlights the marvellous works of God throughout history and in the lives of the chosen people. God delivered the Israelites from their enemies and remained ever faithful to his covenant forever.
In the second part, Zechariah speaks of his son, John the Baptist, who would be born and foretells that he would be the one who cries out in the wilderness, preparing the way of the Lord and calling for repentance.
This is what God promised to his chosen people, that a saviour would be born in the line of David, and this has been fulfilled in the New Testament with the coming of Jesus. One of the most significant events of God’s saving acts to humanity is the celebration of Christmas.
Therefore, this celebration should give meaning to our life, and give us joy internally. One should not forget the greatness of Christmas because God so loved the world that he gave his only son to save us. Hence, realizing this act of God’s love, let us glorify our God by our life like Zechariah and be a source of joy for others.