SENT ON GOD’S MISSION
Introduction
People chosen by God for a special mission in his plan of
salvation are constantly presented in the Bible as chosen and loved before
birth, with their birth announced in a special way; they are moved by the
Spirit of God; their mission demands sacrifices. Witness the call of Samson in
his folkloric saga, or that of John the Baptist. The silence of Zechariah comes
probably from the joy of an overwhelming message, too great to be put into
words. Underlying these vocation stories is that people are weak, that
salvation is gratuitously given by God, that barrenness (the barren women)
gives way to fertility, that sacrifices are demanded. And so, people are to be
moved by the Spirit of God. All this holds true also for us as we are called to
prepare the way of the Lord.
Lord, mighty God, no angel announced our birth, but we know
that you loved us, even before we were born, and that you call us to prepare the
fuller coming of your Son among people. Reveal your strength in our weakness, keep
us hoping in your future, that we may overcome all obstacles to establish the
kingdom of Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Intercessions
– For married couples who expect a child, that they may
welcome the child as a present from God, we pray:
– For parents, that they inspire their children to put their
talents at the service of God and people, we pray:
– For prophets of our day, that the Holy Spirit may move
them to awaken us with God’s word from our lack of concern for the good of the
community, we pray:
Prayer over the Gifts
God, our Father, you had prepared your chosen people to
welcome your Son as the Savior and yet his coming took them by surprise and
they did not recognize him. Wake us up with the cry of present-day prophets, to
recognize and welcome him not only in these signs of bread and wine but also in
the poor and the misfits, who hunger and thirst for food, for justice and peace
and, perhaps without knowing it, for the dignity of your children. Grant us
this through Christ, our Lord.
Prayer after Communion
Lord, God of hope, we are your people today and yet we often
hide the presence of Jesus, your Son, by our compromise and conformity. Let
your Son pour upon us the young wine of hope, to rupture our settled ways and
make us new people who reveal in our littleness and fragility the presence in
our midst of someone much greater than we are, your Son, Jesus Christ, our
Lord.
Blessing
Christmas is near. Let our prayers become more insistent,
that we may become more committed to bring the love and justice of Christ into
our cold and harsh world. May God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the
Holy Spirit.
Commentary
The mother of Samson and the mother of John shared similar
stories. With the passing of years, neither had borne children, to the chagrin
of their husbands. In Hebrew society, a childless marriage was an immense
misfortune; in children, family life was prolonged and life itself extended. In
the home of these two women, there was no infant to be fed and cared for, to be
bedded and clothed; no cry to break the still of night. In the course of time
and through the power of God, the tragedy was overcome. As happens in the
scriptures, the future births are heralded while the child is still in the
womb. In our days of advanced medical technology, the childless marriage is not
as common as at one time. In many cases it is dealt with by adoption, a very
commendable step in the life of a childless couple. The child is raised in a
warm atmosphere that might have otherwise been denied and is fully integrated
into the family’s life. Children are informed of their adoptive status without
in any way diminishing their sense of belonging. The strong desire for children
that underlies today’s readings also points up the tragedy of a procured
abortion. To eliminate human life at any stage is tragic; it is even more
tragic to destroy life in the womb when it is only beginning. In the births
pre-announced in today’s readings, two things are worthy of mention. First,
Samson’s mother is never given a name, although his father, Manoah, is
mentioned repeatedly. The woman is simply the barren wife who has “borne no
children.” The reason for this is not clear; other women in the Bible, of
lesser status, are regularly named. Samson’s mother remains in the shadows, as happens
frequently in today’s society. The mother of an illegitimate child or the
person who has been disgraced or violated and wishes to remain anonymous. They
may be hidden but should not be forgotten. Every person has dignity before God.
Second, the Baptist was born into a priestly family. This may go a long way in
explaining the strong sense of faith in his life. The Christian community is
called in scripture “a royal priesthood.” Every family is part of that
priesthood; an atmosphere of living faith is a harbinger of a future
generation’s sense of values. Or as the psalmist says today, “You who took me
from my mother’s womb, my praise is continually of you.”
Points to Ponder
Childlessness Adoption
To call by name Christian values in the home.