Word to the Wise
Tuesday, December 23, 2014 -
[Malachi 3:1-4, 23-24 and Luke 1:57-66]"Lo, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me...." [Malachi]
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2014
The question asked by Elizabeth's neighbors upon hearing of the birth of John the Baptist is one that every parent might ask at the birth of a child. "What then, will this child be?" Of course, Luke gives a clue in Zechariah's canticle (the "Benedictus") when the old priest, an unexpected dad, sings, "You, my child shall be called a prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way...." (Luke 1:76). And so it was to be. The later generations would see John as the fulfillment of the prophecy of Malachi in today's first scripture
When we look at the manger scene, we can ask the same question of the baby there. "What then will this child be?" We know the story, but it has so many responses that we could sit and meditate for a lifetime. If we just stop for a moment each day during this season and look at the scene, think about a desperate flight into Egypt or the deaths of children ordered by Herod, we can see hard things ahead, that would be grim indeed - if it's all we think about. We can also see the joy of new birth, the visit of shepherds and Magi and the angels' proclamation. The scene is preaching to us of many things. Can we hear it over all the other voices of the season? AMEN
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