Reflection on Today's Readings, Saturday, 3rd Week of Advent, Year B, December 19th, 2020
Texts: Judge 13:2-7.24-25a; Ps. 71:3-6.16-17; Luke 1:5-25
There are many figures in our history of salvation that the circumstances surrounding their birth give insight into how to prepare for the Lord's coming. Those figures performed saving role in the history of our salvation. Two among them are mentioned in today's readings: Samson and John the Baptist. The angel of the Lord relay the message of their birth. The angel of the Lord also relay the message of the birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Angel heralds their birth because they had special role to play in the history of salvation; God was going to act in them and through them to deliver his people from slavery, captivity and oppression. The announcement of their birth is the announcement of God's salvation; time has come for God to save his people. Their birth marks God's time of salvation; it is the dawn of God's salvation in the life of his people. In the first reading, it is said of Samson thus: "the boy shall be a Nazirite to God from birth; and he shall begin to deliver Israel from the hand of the Philistines." In today's gospel reading, it is said of John the Baptist thus: "And he will turn many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God, and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared." Hence, it could be said that the angel announced God's intervention in the history of his people. Such moment of salvation had always been for a period of time, but it shall be everlasting in Jesus Christ. Those Old Testament figures are shadows of Jesus Christ; they foreshadowed what shall happen in Jesus Christ.
The angel tells us what it means to prepare for the birth of our Lord. In the first reading, Manoah was asked to detach from certain things, such as wine, strong drink and anything unclean. During this time of Advent, as we await the Lord, we are to detach from certain things that always keep us away from God; we are to stay away from anything unclean, sinful, and aspire to be holy and blameless before God. It is also a period to share the good news of salvation. Manoah did not keep the good news to herself but shared it with her husband, so also we are to share the good news of God's salvation with our brothers and sisters everywhere we go.
In today's gospel reading, Zechariah waited for the birth of John the Baptist in silence. This brings to mind psalm 46:10: "Be still and know that I am God. I am supreme among the nations, exalted over the earth!" Remaining silent is leaving everything into the hand of God, for it is said, "For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him" (Ps. 62:5). Being silent is a time to open one's ears and heart to hear God. It is a time to seek understanding. Job says, "Teach me, and I will be silent; make me understand how I have gone astray" (6:24). Isaiah says, "And the effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever" (32:17). Silence is also a moment of contemplation, moment to contemplate the mystery of God to gain knowledge and understanding. Gaining knowledge and understanding boost one's faith and trust in God.
Advent is also a period to await the Lord in solitude. It is said that Elizabeth hid herself for five months, saying, "Thus the Lord has done to me in the days when he looked on me, take away my reproach among men." She hid herself not because she was ashamed of herself but to contemplate the wonders of God in her life.
Lord our God, grant us the grace to wait for you doing your will. Amen.
Rev. Fr. Andrew Olowomuke
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