As Christmas approaches, I thought that it is good to highlight Zechariah and the role he plays during this advent season. We are all familiar with his canticle as we recite or sing in our Lauds proclamation "the Dawn from on high will break upon us to shine on those who dwell in darkness and in the shadow of death!"Zechariah both knew about light and darkness. He prophesied the coming of God and God's revelation to the people of Israel. But because of his doubt, specifically, about how God's power can become a reality in his life and for his barren wife Sarah, for nine months, he was prevented to speak.As we anticipate the coming of Jesus, Zechariah can teach us to look closely at ourselves and examine how we experience God in our world. Just like Zechariah, we can always speak of light and goodness, but like him, we too have strong doubts about so many uncertainties in our lives. Sometimes, our darkness always seems too strong to loom against our world and our own life's horizons. This darkness seems to overshadow the light, especially during this winter seasons in our lives and in the lives of the people today.Sister Joyce Rupp in her recent article in NCR, reminds us that even though we find some darkness in our lives and in our world, this darkness is not pure darkness. This darkness is always interspersed with light. She points out that "it is to these dark corners that the Savior comes, bringing light by the tender mercy of God." She reminds us that, "to the darkness of our hurrying, our self-centeredness, our weakness, our frustration, our half-lived lives, our Savior comes. To the darkness of our world of war and torture, alienation and deceit, greed and corruption, our Savior comes." We just have to believe that " the God's Light YEARNS to dawn upon us;" All we need to do is "to open our hearts to receive this gift of loving presence."Easier said than done. But like Zechariah, during this advent season, we are invited to believe in God's awesome greatness. God is ever-revealing its Godself to us - in our lives and in the lives of the people around us. There is nothing dark in the presence of God's light. May we experience these glimmers of light in the midst of our darkness. Let us all join Sister Joyce Rupp in her hope-filled Advent prayers!"EMMANUEL, OUR GOD-WHO-IS-WITH-US
may your Light
be perceived by all who sit in darkness.
Be a Beacon of Hope
for all whose lives are troubled this Christmas."
