The Christ, crib, and cross — tightly connected, completely intertwined

By Father Perry D. Leiker, pastor

A reflection on the daily readings, for Saturday of the Fourth Week of Advent, by Father Perry.

+ “O Radiant Dawn, splendor of Eternal Light, sun of justice.”

O that light draws nearer and nearer; and it remains less than 24 hours until that light, that Advent light, turns into Christmas brilliance and fills us and all the world with that light, that eternal light.

We listen, in 2 Samuel, to that Davidic prophecy stated and sounding as though this final phase of fulfillment is very near, and all of those prophecies of old are about to be realized.

God lets it be known that he is God and that he has no needs, not even a house to live in, cedar or otherwise.

He, God, is about to bring salvation to the world, as the Son of justice is about to be born and the kingdom of God is about to become “established forever.”

+ It’s kind of funny and, in a biblical way, ironic and wonderful when events take shape and begin to ooze with grace and beauty.

Another such story is unraveled before our eyes with Zechariah at the center of the story, ready to announce the one who would announce the big announcement — pointing to the Christ, pointing to the light!

And so, Zechariah is visited by the angel Gabriel; he and his wife, in their old age, are promised a child.

He doubts; he is struck dumb, literally; that is, he could not speak.

His predicament causes all to be struck dumb, figuratively, as they all presumed correctly that a strange and wonderful vision must have occurred.

And in dumb silence he remained until little Johnny was born. When he confirmed what his wife had said, and doing so in writing, his mouth was loosed and his tongue became active once again.

He could speak!

Well, all of this, so that now he could speak a prophecy of prophecies; he was filled with the Holy Spirit of God.

And speak he did!

He spoke of those prophecies of old and his own son’s part in bringing them now to fulfilment: “And you, child [John], will be called prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways.”

The incredulous Zechariah now was proclaiming who his son would be and become and who his son would be telling all of the world about; and who and how that Son of God would now bring that light — that eternal light for all to see.

And how darkness and sin would be conquered by light and love.

What a story! What a moment in time!

What power and grace and life and love was now revealed and is now to be celebrated again by us and by all.

And today, our last O antiphon is proclaimed in the alleluia verse as begun above and finished now, complete: “O Radiant Dawn, splendor of Eternal Light, sun of justice: come and shine on those who dwell in darkness and in the shadow of death. Alleluia! Alleluia!”

And as our story will continue to unfold, we look at the three C’s: the Christ, the Crib, and the Cross.

So tightly connected. So completely intertwined! So much part of the same and Eternal Mystery!

The Way, and the Truth, and the Life and the Light!

The Christmas Brilliance we celebrate together — in less than 24 hours!

---

Father Perry D. Leiker is the 13th pastor of St. Bernard Catholic Church. Reach him at (323) 255-6142. Email Father Perry at pleiker@stbernard-church.com. Follow Father Perry on Twitter: @MrDeano76.