Christ The King / Proper 29
Devotional
Water From the Rock
Lectionary Devotional for Cycle C
Object:
And you, child, will be called prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways....
-- Luke 1:76
Zechariah's tongue was loosed as he named his child John. He sang this prophecy about his child. His prayer was about the future saving acts of God, but it was based on his recognition of the past acts of God. It was because of the faithfulness of God in the past that Zechariah was confident of what God was doing that had implications for the future.
He reread God's promise to Abraham in light of the people's present condition. "Thus he has shown the mercy promised to our ancestors... the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham...." Because the future is always unknown, much of the anxiety in our life is based on our lack of confidence in that future. It is important that we also reread the story of God's faithfulness as a way to prepare for the future. Zechariah saw his son's destiny as preparing the way for Christ's coming. That preparation was accomplished by giving "knowledge of salvation to his people by the forgiveness of their sins." All this was "to guide our feet into the way of peace."
As we celebrate Christ the King Sunday, perhaps we can reread the promises of God in light of our situation and discover again the tender mercies of our God that lead us to the way of peace.
-- Luke 1:76
Zechariah's tongue was loosed as he named his child John. He sang this prophecy about his child. His prayer was about the future saving acts of God, but it was based on his recognition of the past acts of God. It was because of the faithfulness of God in the past that Zechariah was confident of what God was doing that had implications for the future.
He reread God's promise to Abraham in light of the people's present condition. "Thus he has shown the mercy promised to our ancestors... the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham...." Because the future is always unknown, much of the anxiety in our life is based on our lack of confidence in that future. It is important that we also reread the story of God's faithfulness as a way to prepare for the future. Zechariah saw his son's destiny as preparing the way for Christ's coming. That preparation was accomplished by giving "knowledge of salvation to his people by the forgiveness of their sins." All this was "to guide our feet into the way of peace."
As we celebrate Christ the King Sunday, perhaps we can reread the promises of God in light of our situation and discover again the tender mercies of our God that lead us to the way of peace.
