Daily Scripture, December 23, 2024
Scripture:
Malachi 3:1-4, 23-24
Luke 1:57-66
Reflection:
I am writing this reflection on December 19, when our Gospel reading is the appearance of the angel Gabriel to Zechariah, and the angel tells him that Elizabeth, his wife, will conceive and bear a child in answer to their prayers. Because Zechariah asks a question, the angel takes it as evidence of disbelief and renders Zechariah mute.
In today’s Gospel reading, Elizabeth has conceived, and the child is born. When the relatives come to the circumcision of the baby, they plan to name him after his father. But Elizabeth tells them he will be named John. The relatives do not understand this and ask Zechariah. When he writes affirming what Elizabeth says, his mouth is opened, and he praises God.
I find myself wondering about this. I’m not so sure I would be praising God after so long a punishment. But then, I thought, what if Zechariah really doubted the angel’s words, and then saw that it all had happened as he was told it would. Would he not simply praise God for all that God had done?
We may have doubts, and it may be hard at times to see God working in our lives, but God does so, even when we can’t feel anything. And so, like Zechariah, we ultimately come to simply praising God. When the relatives witness Zechariah being able to speak and praising God, they wonder about this baby who was born only eight days prior: “What, then, will this child be?” And Luke concludes: “For surely the hand of God was with him.”
It may not always seem so, but the hand of God is with us. We can enter into the celebration of Christmas with our questions and our hurts and our wondering. But God is with us through it all, and Jesus’ birth reminds us of God’s love and power and faithfulness. Blessed be God!
Fr. Phil Paxton, C.P., is the local superior of the Passionist Community in Birmingham, Alabama.
Feast of St. Francis of Assisi Scripture: Galatians 6:14-18 Matthew 11:25-30 Reflection: As the month of October continues to unfold and the lives of many religious founders are shared with » Continue Reading.
Feast of Blessed Isidore DeLoor, Passionist Scripture: Galatians 1:6-12 Luke 10:25-37 Reflection: If a person does a good deed for someone, that person is referred to as a "Good Samaritan." » Continue Reading.
Scripture: Isaiah 5:1-7 Philippians 4:6-9 Matthew 21:33-43 Reflection: Welcome back to the vineyard! Did you notice that this is the third Sunday in a row that Jesus has been telling » Continue Reading.
Scripture: Job 38:1, 12-21; 40:3-5 Luke 10:13-16 Reflection: To follow Jesus, and take up His Cross means "I take responsibility." Luke 10 begins with Jesus sending the seventy-two disciples to » Continue Reading.
Feast of St. Therese of the Child Jesus Scripture: Job 9:1-12, 14-16 Luke 9:57-62 Reflection: Much has been written about St.Therese of the Child Jesus, but I suggest that the » Continue Reading.
Feast of Ss. Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, Archangels Scripture: Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14 Revelations 12:7-12ab John 1:47-51 Reflection: Today I find we as Catholic Christians are rather reluctant to speak about » Continue Reading.
Scripture: Job 19:21-27 Matthew 18:1-5, 10 Reflection: Today’s feast of the Guardian Angels points to a surprising intersection between ancient belief and a central feature of modern, popular spirituality. In » Continue Reading.
Scripture: Job 3:1-3, 11-17, 20-23 Luke 9:51-56 Reflection: Have you ever had one of those days when you wish you hadn’t been born? That is how Job felt in our » Continue Reading.
Scripture: Ezekiel 18:25-28 Philippians 2:1-11 Matthew 21:28-32 Reflection: Henri Nouwen in the book "Compassion," draws on the beautiful hymn of Christ in Paul’s letter to the Philippians – today’s second » Continue Reading.
Scripture: Eccl 11:9-12:8 Lk 9:43b-45 Reflection: Today’s first reading is a sobering one. It could certainly give even a "cock-eyed" optimist pause. At first we are encouraged to enjoy the » Continue Reading.