Friday of the Fourth Week of Advent

Today's Mass Readings

For the last two days of this week, the Gospel selections return us to the story whose beginning we heard on Monday. It is the story of the birth of John the Baptist. His father Zechariah and his mother Elizabeth are the protagonists.

Elizabeth gives birth to a son. Her neighbors and relatives rejoice with her. Zechariah remains mute because of his lack of faith. But everyone gets ready to name the child and perform the customary rituals. Everyone presumes he will be named after his father.

Sorry. The angel had instructed them differently. Both Zechariah and Elizabeth show that they have heard God’s word expressed by the angel and they have believed. The child will be named John. Immediately Zechariah’s “mouth was opened, his tongue freed, and he spoke blessing God” (Luke 1:64). Tomorrow’s Gospel will give us the words of his “blessing God” in his Benedictus.

Who is this baby? What will he become? What role will he have in salvation history? “All these matters were discussed throughout the hill country of Judea. All who heard these things took them to heart, saying, ‘What, then, will this child be?’”

The gospels will give us many details about John. He is the precursor who preached about the coming Messiah. He is a desert figure, calling for repentance. He baptizes in the Jordan River. He declares that he is not worthy to untie Jesus’ sandals. He criticizes Herod. He is beheaded.

But during this Advent season, we should not overlook the first time that John and Jesus interact. It is while they are both in the wombs of their mothers. We heard this in Wednesday’s Gospel. “When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb … for joy” (Luke 1: 41, 44).

So, the first time that John is aware of Jesus’ presence, his response wasn’t complicated. It didn’t entail any ambitious activity. It didn’t follow any planning. No, it was spontaneous, not programmed.

Jesus was present to John in the tabernacle of Mary’s womb. That same Jesus Christ is present to us in the quiet but powerful way we call the real presence. May we respond like John did, with joy.

Reflection by Archbishop Jerome Hanus, OSB