A BIRTH FULL OF PROMISE
From
the perspective of Zechariah, the birth of his son, John the Baptist,
must have been a tremendous, dramatic event. He who was struck dumb for
his incredulity and hesitation is now liberated, especially from his
muteness. As he proclaimed in his well-known canticle, “Blessed be the
Lord, the God of Israel, for He has visited and brought redemption to
His people.”
Of all God’s people, Zechariah was the first to be set free. Somehow we
can’t blame the poor man for having been struck mute, frail and human
as he was.
We, too, are somehow imprisoned and speechless in our cages of doubt
and lack of trust in God. We long for the day when we will be set free,
the ghosts of our past finally laid to rest. This means that we will, at
last, come to terms with our past hurts, issues and concerns. We will
not forget them entirely because unfortunately there’s no delete key for
bad memories, but we will come to accept them as part of the greater
scheme of things.
What truly matters, most especially with God, is the future, and not
the past anymore. “A future of hope” (Jeremiah 29:11) is what God
promises us, if we put our trust in Him.
People were wondering and speculating on what John the Baptist would
be. They were even arguing about his name. But this stands in contrast
with God’s holy and majestic will — it is something not subject to petty
considerations and deliberations.
This is the kind of God who always knows and desires what is best for
us, like a most loving father who truly cares. Like the
frail-but-promising newborn baby John, we humbly and completely entrust
ourselves into His hands. Fr. Martin Macasaet, SDB
REFLECTION QUESTION: Are you burdened with a painful or ugly past? Surrender it to God and hold on to His promise to give you a future full of hope.
Heal me, Lord, of my painful and ugly past. With You in my life, I trust that my future will be a lot brighter. Amen.
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