Daily Retreat 12/19/08

2008 Dec 19 Fri: Advent Weekday (O Radix Jesse) Jgs 13:2-7,24-25a; Ps 70(71):3-4a,5-6ab,16-17; Lk 1:5-25 From today's readings:  "An angel of the LORD appeared to the woman and said to her, "Though you are barren and have had no children, yet you will conceive and bear a son...  On You I depend from birth; from my mother's womb You are my strength.....  The angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall name him John...." O Radix Jesse, O Root of Jesse! As part of the structured scriptural "mini-series" presented in these last days of Advent, miraculous births of the Old Testament are recounted in the first readings, such as that of Samson, recorded in the book of Judges.  The parallels between Samson and John the Baptist are very clear: the births of both were announced by an angel, both were born of barren mothers, both were given a clear divine mission which was first explained to the parents, both had a mission which preluded an even greater mission of their greater successor (Samson began the deliverance of Israel from the Philistines, David completed the task; John the Baptist was the voice crying in the wilderness, Jesus is the Word of God Himself). The consideration of these miraculous births is also meant to highlight the even more miraculous and marvelous nature of Christ's birth (the contrast will be shown clearly in the Gospel details - for example, Samson's and John's birth of barren mothers clearly shows God's intervention, but even more so does Christ's birth of the Virgin Mary).  The symmetrical convergence of Old Testament typology, prophecy, and preparation is clearly coming to fulfillment and climax!