luke 1: he fulfilled his word - satruday 3rd week

Today our responsorial psalm is not strictly speaking a psalm but a gospel canticle.  It was supposedly sung by Zechariah when the child foretold to him by an angel in the temple was born.  Punished because he doubted the promise, Zechariah became mute until the day when the promise was fulfilled thus singing this song which we sing every morning.  The hymn celebrates the fulfillment of the promise, the realization of the oath uttered long ago.  God is true to his word.

Most of our celebrations are celebrations of promises uttered long ago and now realized and fulfilled.  Christmas is a celebration of a promised fulfilled, the fulfillment of the promise to show mercy to our fathers.  Easter is a celebration of a word fulfilled –resurrexit sicut dixit, he has risen as he has said.  It was not enough that he was risen.  He has risen as he said so.  He fulfilled his word.  This is what Zechariah celebrates with a song – the Lord remembers his promise.

It is also for this reason that we celebrate our promises, our vows, our oaths with anniversaries and jubilees.  We celebrate our own faithfulness to our oaths and vows because God is faithful to his oaths and vows.  We celebrate our fidelity to our promises because God is also faithful to his promises.  We value and celebrate commitments because God is faithful to his commitments to us.

Today we are reminded of our promises, our oaths and our vows.  We are amazed and astonished at the power of words – our words and God's word.  An "I do" can be steadfastly forever.  A "yes" can channel all my energies, all my powers to a single purpose and mission all my life through.  An "amen" can chart a direction that will mark a lifetime. 

Let us belittle words, neither ours nor God's, for a word can become our very life itself.