Tuesday of the Fourth
Week of Advent
(Malachi 3:1-4.23-24; Luke 1:57-66)
In Luke’s gospel John the Baptist clearly takes the place of
Elijah, the prophet of fire. John warns the people that unless they reform,
they will be burned like trees in a forest fire. In this way John goes before the Lord, as his
father Zechariah proclaims in his song of jubilation at his naming, “to prepare
his ways.”
Jesus will not take up John’s message of the coming wrath of
God. Rather, his preaching will center
on God as the human’s savior. Although Jesus
will mention God’s power to cast sinners into hell, he will stress God’s
love. He will say that the Father has counted
the number of hairs on each person’s head to insure her total salvation.
Since love is also portrayed with fire, we might contrast
John’s message with Jesus’ using that image.
John, following Elijah, will use the threat of a blazing fire to move
the people out of lethargy or licentiousness.
In contrast Jesus, the divine physician, uses love like a laser to heal
us and make us whole.
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