The Morning Star

Monday of the Fourth Week of Advent

(Click a Here for Readings)

Gospel of Luke 1:57-66

When they came on the eighth day to circumcise the child, they were going to call him Zechariah after his father, but his mother said in reply, "No.  He will be called John."....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.

He will be called John.   Elizabeth gives birth to a beautiful baby boy.  As Jewish custom, he should be named after his father Zechariah.  The Lord has another name in mind.  In a miraculous healing from muteness, Zechariah proclaims "John is his name."  All of the crowds are amazed by Zechariah simple words. But, underlining all the amazement is a sense of fear.  Most likely questions flooded their minds:

What, then, will this be child be? Will he be some sort of prophet of the Lord?  Or, could he be a threat to our Jewish faith?  What is the purpose of this miracle baby born from the womb of a barren woman? It must be the hands of the Lord, a mystery destined to unfold in years to come....

The Jewish people will soon learn the importance of John the Baptist as the last of the great prophets.  John is like a lantern producing a faint glow along the path to the Kingdom of Heaven.  The dimmed light shines on the city of Jerusalem and along the River Jordan.  As the light glows brighter, it  invites people to conversion and baptism.  The glowing light of John's preaching is preparing hearts for the arrival of Jesus the Messiah, the brightest light in the sky - The Morning Star.

Jesus, the Morning Star  I absolutely love the image chosen for this meditation.  It's based on "The Daughter of the Sun, the Morning Star" which is part of Cherokee Indian folk lore:  “Morning Star, the star that shines brightest when all other stars go dim, the star that shines not with its own light but with the light of the Sun…”  The brightest star in the sky is Jesus Christ.  Even the three wise men will follow the bright star, presenting the child gifts of frankincense and myrrh.  

Is Jesus a bright shining star in my life?  Do I gaze up at him with praise, love, and thanksgiving?  

Refiner of Gold & Silver  The Prophet Malachi writes:       

"For he is like the refiner's fire, or like the fuller's lye.  He will sit refining and purifying silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi, refining them like gold or like silver."  

Can you imagine if God never became man?  Can you imagine if humanity never experienced a savior who continuously refines and purifies our hearts with love and mercy?  Let's take a few moments in the early morning hours to gaze up at the stars and be reminded of Christ's upcoming birth!

O Radiant Dawn, splendor of eternal light, sun of justice:  come and shine on those who dwell in the darkness and shadow of death.  (Advent "O Antiphon" for December 21st)

-J.