Daily Seasonal Reflections
Monday of the Fourth Week of Advent
Fr. Trey Nelson
 
 
“All who heard these things took them to heart, saying,  ‘What, then, will this child be? For surely the hand of the Lord was with him!"” (From Luke 1:57-66) 
 
Well, we have entered the final days of purple.   “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” is my favorite song, and we sang it for the last time yesterday as well.  I really love this season.  As a kid, I dreaded the waiting and wanted it to be Christmas Eve as soon as possible. Now, it’s the anticipation that I look forward to, if that makes sense.  I do hope that these holy days have been refreshing for you in some way.
 
In today’s Gospel for Mass, we come to the second have of the story of Zecheriah.  Made mute when he doubted the angel, just a few days ago, his ability to speak returns today. At first, he writes on a tablet, “John is his name!” He then speaks aloud, “blessing God,” as the Gospel relates. 
 
For our little reflection today, however, I invite us to focus on one of the final verses. Regarding John himself, Luke writes, “What, then, will this child be?”  Like every priest and deacon who has celebrated the baptism of an infant, for me one of the most awe-filled moments is when you look into the eyes of the child.   I always find myself wondering the same thing, “What will this child grow to be?”  I want to suggest, though, that for us to be able to continually ask this question of ourselves, especially as we grow older, is a very courageous thing to do.   For all of us, our role changes over time, especially in the lives of our children.  Our role in the workplace changes as well, along with our physical abilities to do much of what we have been able to do all our lives. To remain open as we grow older necessitates letting go.  For some, retirement is easy. For others, it is a more challenging adjustment.   Letting go when it has to do with the children in our lives can be hard too.  Advent is all about “the coming of something new.”  This does not stop simply because we grow older.  God desires to continually reveal to us that which He asks of us, that which will make us genuinely happy and sustain that happiness.
 
Consider for yourself, then, the question, “Dear Lord, what are you calling me to be at this point in my life?”  God will always help us to let go, move on, and grow even more.   Certain aspects of our life—and certain aspects of us—may change. The one thing that does not change, however, is the holy dignity with which we have been blessed and the love continually showered upon us by The One who gave us that gift in the first place.
 
Happy Advent!
 
Merry Christmas!