Word to the Wise
Thursday, December 24, 2009 - Thursday in the Fourth Week of Advent - Christmas Eve
[2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8B-12, 14A, 16 and Luke 1:67-79]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]
Like the Magnificat Canticle which is said at Evening Prayer, the Canticle of Zechariah (also known as the "Benedictus") has entered the daily prayer of the Church at Morning Prayer. Like the Magnificat, the Benedictus is a kind of "mini-gospel" containing major themes of the entire gospel of Luke. The Davidic descent of the Savior and the fulfillment of the prophecies from of old are recalled. The role of John the Baptist, (whose birth is the occasion of this canticle) is "foretold." There is a broad vision of the purpose of the birth of the Savior. All of this can be a part of our meditation on the significance of the birth of the Lord. I especially pray that the concluding verse of the canticle will be more fully realized: 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. So many in our world cannot even live day to day, and are subject to the constant violence of war and hunger and poverty. Those of us who profess to be Christians have a profound obligation to bring the Canticle of Zechariah to reality - to put "skin on it," and especially to respond to the Spirit's nudging toward the way of preace. AMEN
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