8th day Simbang Gabi Reflection, 23rd December

TO PREPARE THE WAY OF THE LORD

Introduction

Jesus Christ’s advent into the world was prepared for
by various prophets in the Old Testament and by a big cast in
the New Testament. His coming in the life of any believer is preceded
by many and sundry characters and events. His real presence to us this
Christmas requires not only our own personal cooperation but the crucial
participation too of a multiplicity of persons. One such major character
was and is John the Baptizer, the Lord’s precursor.

Body

THE MESSENGER. The prophet Malachi (the Hebrew name
means “my messenger”) is well-known for his messianic proclamation of
the divine purpose: “I am sending my messenger to clear the way before
Me.” The pun on his name underscores his role in the long history of the
waiting for the advent of the Messiah. Rounding off the Twelve Prophets,
the book tried to persuade its readership to follow the Law and be faithful
to God and to be strong in their resolve to do so, for the messenger in
preparation for the final development is there.

For the purpose of keeping the covenant with God, so that God
may finally come and be in fact in His temple in the midst of his people,
the messenger sent by Him would be clearing the way before Him. And
he would be like “a smelter’s fire and a fuller’s lye” a purifying, caustic
treatment. This zealous, powerful enforcer of the covenant would make
his appearance to purify the descendants of Levi like a smelter and a
refiner of silver and gold. Thus the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem in
righteousness would be pleasing to the Lord.

THE ANGEL OF THE COVENANT. This angel of the
covenant desired and needed by the people would test them in his coming.
Who could hold out when he appears, and endure the day of his coming?
Elijah, the herald of the messianic era, seemed to have been understood
in Jewish prophetic tradition to be this messenger of the Lord and the
angel of the covenant. Since Elijah did not die but ascended to heaven
in a fiery chariot (2 Kings 2:11), he could return in preparation for the
day of the Lord.

“The awesome, fearful day of the Lord” refers not only to
the travails of the Messiah but also to the rigorous actions the people
would be summoned to undertake in order to be acceptable to God.
The prophet Elijah would bring about intergenerational reconciliation,
reconciling parents with their children, and children with their parents.
This restoration of the family which mirrors the covenant would deflect
the utter destruction due to the entire land.

THE PRECURSOR OF THE MESSIAH. Jesus Christ himself
declared that the foretold return of Elijah to restore things for the final
manifestation of the kingdom of God was fulfilled already in the coming
of John the Baptizer (Matthew 11:14; 17:10-13). Matthew intentionally
portrayed John wearing clothing made of camel’s hair to recall the austere
dress of the prophet Elijah (2 Kings 1:8). Luke narrated the birth and
circumcision of John to emphasize his incorporation into the people of
God by the sign of the covenant (Genesis 17:1-12). And his naming meant
his identity; his name John (“God is gracious”) given by the angel meant
he was a gift to his people, a heavenly destiny. What his name indicated
for the people was that vital, his father would remain speechless until he
had proclaimed it to others. The people’s reaction to the entire happening
showed that not only the parents had a stake in the child’s birth.

John was a promise of future blessings to God’s chosen people for
the establishment of the reign of God. Neighbors and relatives rejoiced
that God had shown great mercy to everyone by the birth of the child.
Clearly, John was a sign of divine presence and power, accompanied by
the marvels that his father Zechariah blessed God for and which inspired
fear in the hearts of the neighbors. They might not know exactly what
to make out of the events, but they were certain God had great design
for the child.

Conclusion

God, to save us, willed that we cooperate with Him. Not only in
the sense that each of us must personally submit to His divine will, but
also in the imperative that we assume active role and responsibility for
the salvation of others. God calls messengers to deliver His word to the
people, and angels of the covenant to focus the attention of the public to
the particular demands of our union with Him, and precursors to challenge
the believers to renew their lives. Christmas, as a celebration of God’s
coming in Jesus Christ here and now, needs servants of God too to prepare
the way of the Lord. Not only priests and teachers tell the people of
the mystery that happens in the incarnation of Jesus Christ, but parents,
friends and individuals can likewise remind and assist those immediately
around them so that all can welcome the One Who Comes. Today we
still need a Malachi, an Elijah or a John the Baptizer to challenge the
people to prepare and to clear the way of the Lord.

Questions

In all the flurry of activities surrounding the approach of Christmas,
have we done anything yet to ensure that God who longs to be present
in our hearts finds us open and welcoming? Have we helped anyone so
far to be ready spiritually for Christmas?


MSGR. SABINO A. VENGCO, JR.
President
Kadiwa sa Pagkapari Foundation