December 24 (Lk. 1,67-79): After John

“Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has come to his people and set them free.”

For like forever, the Israelites had to struggle against the oppression of the Egyptians. They cried out to God for help. Mindful of his servants Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and of his promise that he would always be there for them (for that is what Yahweh means), he wrought the magnificent event of the Exodus, through the hands of Moses, to liberate them.

But there is a far more onerous and a far harsher oppression that all humanity has to run a way from. It is the oppression of sin. Now, Zechariah, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, proclaimed that God had already raised up a mighty Savior to liberate humanity from this oppression. The coming of the Savior had been foretold by the prophets as a fulfillment of the promise of God. John, his son, would be great, for he would go before this Savior to prepare his way and point him out when he came. As yet, humanity walked in darkness. And the Savior would be the Light to scatter this and to guide them as they walked the way of peace. The Savior is Jesus, the Son of Mary.

John’s mission, as his name indicates, was to proclaim, by word and action, that God is compassionate. He did this precisely by preparing the way for the Lord so that humanity could go to him. It is only by following a way that we get somewhere. Without a way, we could not reach Jesus, who is rich in mercy and compassion.

John taught that the way to Jesus is repentance for our sins. Repentance makes “the windings straight and the rough ways smooth”. With a repentant heart, Jesus can come to us and we can go to him so that we may be forgiven of our sins. There is no other way by which we can meet God and gain salvation. Jesus himself appeared proclaiming, “Reform your lives!” Repentance is the way to salvation. This is the way we are all enjoined to go. There is no better way to prepare for his coming than to stop our sinfullness and set straight the way that leads to us. Reaching us, he, the Light, may begin to shine anew in our life.

The Light did not come to shine only for us. It is our vocation to be a little light for others who are finding their way to Jesus. Let us not leave them wandering in the dark. Let us show them the way – the way of repentance, of reform, of change of heart.

Following the way of John and trusting in the tender compassion of God, may we all find our feet on the way towards the peace and salvation of Jesus.