Weekly Catholic Bible Study

Oratory of Divine Love Reflection 708: Christ in Your Heart : A Reflection on the Gospel of Luke (Luke 1 :67-79)

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67 Then Zechariah his father, filled with the Holy Spirit, prophesied, saying:

 

68 “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has visited and brought redemption to his people. 69 He has raised up a horn for our salvation within the house of David his servant, 70 even as he promised through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old: 71 salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us, 72 to show mercy to our fathers and to be mindful of his holy covenant 73 and of the oath he swore to Abraham our father, and to grant us that, 74 rescued from the hand of enemies, without fear we might worship him 75 in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.

 

76 And you, child, will be called prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, 77 to give his people knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, 78 because of the tender mercy of our God by which the daybreak from on high will visit us 79 to shine on those who sit in darkness and death’s shadow, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”

 

In my homily last week, I mentioned how Zechariah let his fear take the place his faith should have in his heart. He doubted the words of the angel and after that, he became dumb and he entered a long and dark period in his interior life.

While John the Baptist grew in Elisabeth’s womb, Christ was silent growing in Zechariah’s heart as well. That is to say, his former fear became a seed; behind the doubt there was a bigger truth lying, ripening in the silence and solitude of Elisabeth’s pregnancy.

And when John was born, Zechariah was reborn. He could see what his heart would not have believed before and he could now reinterpret all his past, and even the history of his people by the light of this powerful experience he had. And Zechariah’s conversion from fear to faith was considered so meaningful by the Church that up to now we sing Zechariah’s canticle every single day during Lauds, right before the Mass.

His experience is worth being re-lived, re-enacted by each one of us. Christ wants to be born in our hearts. Our fears cannot impede that. We are instruments in the lives of our brothers, preparing the way for the Lord’s manifestation in their lives. May we welcome, full of joy, the new life that is coming in our midst today.

by Fr. Gabriel Vecchi

 

 

 

Prayer: “Let nothing disturb you, Let nothing frighten you, All things are passing away: God never changes. Patience obtains all things Whoever has God lacks nothing; God alone suffices.”

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Quote from a Saint:  “Lord, help me to live this day, quietly, easily. To lean upon Thy great strength, trustfully, restfully. To wait for the unfolding of Thy will, patiently, serenely. To meet others, peacefully, joyously. To face tomorrow, confidently, courageously.” – St. Francis of Assisi

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Questions for reflection:

1. How do you prepare for the coming of Christ at Christmas?

2. Have you ever allowed your fear to replace your faith? What have you done to stop fear from ruling your life?

3. Have you ever doubted what the Lord was saying to you? Did this lead you into a dark period in your interior life like it did for Zachariah?

4. If you have had a dark period of your interior life, did you experience a rebirth that helped you to reinterpret your past experiences and see how God was at work in your life during that time?

5. Have you ever had the opportunity to turn your fear into “seeds” of faith? What fruits came from this?

6. How can you foster the growth of Christ in your heart?

7. What can you do to keep the joy of Christmas throughout the whole year?

8. How can the joy of Christ in your heart benefit those around you?

9. Are you prepared for the birth of Christ in your heart?

--Benjamin & Kristen Rinaldo, CfP