Tuesday of the Third
Week of Advent
(Judges 13:2-7.24-25a; Luke 1:5-25)
We feel for couples who want to have children but remain
barren. Often they seem to be the most
virtuous of people – she, gentle and caring; he, responsible and
understanding. Raising offspring like
themselves would not only fulfill the couple’s desire but would also give hope
to their neighbors for a nobler society.
Why, we ask, does God not grant them their continual prayer for a
family?
Children, however, are not human property but belong to
God. They are born to serve His design
for a more just creation. In both
readings today God grants the barren couples a son to further His purpose of
preparing for the coming of Christ.
Manoah and his wife will give birth to Samson who will defeat the
enemies of the Israelites among whom Jesus will be born. Zechariah and Elizabeth will give birth to
John who will announce that the Lord is at hand. Does God take pity on these pious couples
because they pray to Him?
Yes, we can be sure of that.
But we should not see their having children as God’s only answer to
their prayers. It is wiser to see Jesus
as God’s response to all our prayers whether for children, a new job, or healing
of disease. He is the gift which makes
life worthwhile. He is our personal
savior, who will yank us beyond death into eternal life. He is also the model of justice and prudence
which guide all earth’s peoples to peaceful coexistence. Finally, he is the goal of the evolving
universe who will bring heaven and earth together in harmony.
