Deacon-structing Advent: #Light

Deacon Pedro

Friday, December 1, 2023

Al Khazneh in Petra, Jordan. iStock photo.

We’re approaching the First week of Advent and I am thinking about Zechariah.

He was the father of John the Baptist and the husband of Elizabeth. Remember that when the Archangel Gabriel told him of the birth of John the Baptist, Zechariah doubted and Gabriel made him mute. After the birth, when all the relatives want to name the baby Zechariah after his father, Zechariah makes clear that his name is John. At that moment his tongue is loosed and he begins praising the Lord (Luke 1:57-66). He prays one of the most beautiful prayers in Scripture (1:67-79), one that the Church calls the Benedictus, because that is the first word of the prayer in Latin:

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, He has come to his people and set them free….

The canticle ends:

“In the tender compassion of our God, the dawn from on high shall break upon us, to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

That’s why our theme this week is Light.

The imagery of light is found in many places in our Advent scripture readings. Why? Because light guides; it points the way; it scatters the darkness.

We all know people who are in darkness. Many of us have gone through periods of darkness ourselves. Some of you may be going through a period of darkness right now. Advent announces the light that is to come.

Not only is Advent a time to reflect on the Light that is to come and that has already come, but it is an opportunity for us to be light in a world that is so often in darkness.

This is what we are called to live during Advent:

Do everything we can in order to dispel the darkness that surrounds us, and

Help our brothers and sisters come out of the darkness.

Let us allow the light to help us stay awake and alert, as we wait for the dawn that is to come.

Let us Pray:

"In the tender compassion of our God, the dawn from on high shall break upon us, to shine on all who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace."

Come, Light of the world!