24 December 2020
Thursday in the Fourth Week of Advent – Mass in the Morning
“Forever I will sing the goodness of the Lord”
In today’s Gospel we hear the Canticle of Zechariah, the first words of praise and joy he spoke after nine months of contemplative silence leading up to the birth of his son John. Zechariah’s excitement and joy is rooted in God’s fidelity at the promise of freedom for his people which has begun in the birth of John: “blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has come to his people and set them free.” Zechariah’s joy is heightened by the reality that while God is the primary actor in this drama of salvation, he invites Zechariah and John to be a part of it. Their joy is also a joy of participating in God’s mission of mercy and salvation. The joy of companionship.
At the close of the canticle, we hear one of the most beautiful lines in the whole Scriptures: “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.” This image gives us two more pieces about joy. The first is joy’s character of renewal. The second is joy’s relationship to peace.
The natural image of the dawn captures an aspect of joy that is rooted in newness, and in beginnings, and in renewal. Christian joy is a renewable energy source, like the dawn, which begins every new day with a sense of hope and possibility. God’s joy, which is a fruit we receive in relation with Him, can have the same effect on our hearts like the dawn. It can renew us with hope and possibility as our feet our guided by this light and joy to walk with God. Joy’s destination is “the way of peace.” Christian joy springs from a heart at peace, and a heart at peace flows from being shown mercy, love, and forgiveness. The Lord desires to bring each of us heart’s full of peace and joy through an encounter with his love, mercy and forgiveness. Zechariah’s canticle invites us to pray with this image of joy, a joy of participating in God’s plan of salvation, a joy that is rooted in peace, and a joy that is renewed each day like the dawn.