God's Promises
“He promised to show mercy to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant. This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham: to set us free from the hand of our enemies, free to worship him without fear, holy and righteous in his sight all the days of our life.” (Luke 1:72-75)
“He promised to show mercy to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant. This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham: to set us free from the hand of our enemies, free to worship him without fear, holy and righteous in his sight all the days of our life.” (Luke 1:72-75)
Promises, promises.
Today is such an exciting day! Christians around the world are eagerly anticipating the celebration of Jesus’ Nativity which begins tonight.
Today’s gospel reading is called The Canticle of Zechariah because it was a praise uttered by the father of John the Baptist in acknowledgment of all God had faithfully done for him and his wife Elizabeth. Zechariah knew definitively that his God is one who is worthy of praise, is worthy of worship, is faithful and true, is compassionate and forgiving, and is one who extends mercy beyond human comprehension.
God has never failed anyone who has put his or her trust in him.
Christmas Eve reminds us that God’s promises are always true. He promised to give each of us a life which we can live freely under his protection. Throughout the ages he has journeyed with humankind, never forsaking his children. He did not create us to abandon us. And he did not make promises to break them.
As we open our presents this evening and tomorrow morning, as we celebrate with our friends and our families, let us remember that the greatest gift our Father has given us is the fulfillment of his promise to send us a savior, his only Son - God Incarnate.
Today, let us meditate on the Canticle of Zechariah and make it our own. Through its words, may we too acknowledge that our Father is worthy of all praise and worship best offered through lives that honors him.
Forever I will sing the goodness of the Lord. Amen.
Charmaine Carter, MD is a retired physician, now serving as the Director of Evangelization and Adult Faith Formation at the Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle. She became Catholic 16 years ago along with her husband Deacon John Carter and their 3 children. She holds a Master of Theology from Saint Leo University, and she is a Spiritual Director, having trained at the Cenacle of Our Lady of Divine Providence School of Spirituality. On any given day, you will find her studying and/or teaching Sacred Scriptures, which are her passions.
