Friday of the Fourth Week of Advent
Christmas Eve
Year C
Reading 1: 2 Samuel 7:1-5; 8-12; 14; 16
Responsorial Psalm: PS 89: 2-5; 27; 29
“For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord”
Gospel: Luke 1:67-79
Luke 1:79 – “To guide our feet into the path of peace”
In today’s Gospel, the Canticle of Zechariah declares how Jesus fulfils the Old Testament’s expectations of salvation.
Once we grasp that Jesus was no ordinary teacher and healer, but Yahweh moving among his people, we can begin to understand his words and actions more clearly. If we survey the texts of the Old Testament—and the first Christians relentlessly read Jesus in light of these writings—we see that Yahweh was expected to do four great things: he would gather the scattered tribes of Israel; he would cleanse the holy temple in Jerusalem; he would definitively deal with the enemies of the nation; and finally, he would reign as Lord of the world.
The hope expressed especially in the prophets and the Psalms was that through these actions, Yahweh would purify Israel, and through the purified Israel bring salvation to all. What startled the first followers of Jesus is that he accomplished these four tasks, but in the most unexpected way.
Come, Lord Jesus, show us the Love of God.
With thanks to Holy Name of Mary Parish, Hunters Hill, who have supplied these daily Advent and Christmas 2021 reflections from their publication Daily Inspirations of Faith: A Season of Prayer – Advent to Epiphany 2021-22.
