questions

Malachi 3:1-4, 23-24; Psalm 25 Lift up your heads and see; your redemption is near at hand; Luke 1:57-66

Today's reading give us the picture of the birth of John the Baptist. There was much mystery over this birth. Zechariah, his father, was speechless, stricken mute, throughout the pregnancy. Elizabeth, his mother, chose the name John, which befuddled everyone since there was no previous John in the family. Zechariah finally speaks as he blesses God.

All of this leaves the neighborhood filled with fear, "Then fear came upon all their neighbors."

Here we have an interesting situation.

Elizabeth and Zechariah who were both elderly and barren finally have a child, that which they longed for throughout their marriage. They finally experience the blessing of God.

This is suppose to be good news worth celebrating. Yet, it is fear not joy that falls upon the neighborhood.

What are they afraid of, what and why do they fear?

I believe the question they ask points to the ground of their fear, "What, then, will this child be?"

This is a great question. This is the question of advent and Christmas.

Yet, this is not the question we ask today. Today,w e ask"what do you want for Christmas?" or "have you finished your christmas shopping?"

How often in life we find ourselves asking the wrong question. The people of Zechariah's neighborhood, asked the perfect question, "What, then, will this child be?"

The question isn't so much about John as it is about the people. They want to know how this child is going to impact their lives. They want to know what changes will they have to endure.

The birth of John the Baptist and the circumstances and mystery all point toward the reality that GOd has a plan; it all points to the fact that God is alive and near and is part of the their lives.

This is the realization that gives the people a cause to be afraid.

As st. PAul says, "it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of a living God.

This is what John the baptist's birth signifies. God is alive' GOd has a planned.The people are now aware that God is not longer distant but he is near to them and he is int heir midst; God cares.

If the birth of John the Baptist awakens people to this reality, how much more the birth of Jesus, the Son of God.

The question we should ask as we peer into the manger, "What, then, will this child be?" or as the Carol goes, "What child is this?"

Should not the birth of Jesus shake things up. Should not we be awaken to the reality that God has a planned, that he is near to us.

This is the beauty of Christmas.