Monday of the Fourth Week of Advent
Like many Catholics and other Christians who were baptized as infants, I don’t remember it. I don’t recall what I wore or if I cried as the water saturated my dry hair. I can only trust that my parents responded to questions such as “Do you reject Satan?” with a fervent and loud “I do!” on my behalf. But I don’t remember. Nevertheless, in that moment, I was forever changed. To borrow a line from the Catechism, I no longer belonged to myself, but to Him who died and rose for us. (CCC 1269) In that moment, I was born again (John 3:5-7). In that moment, I was consecrated to God.
Both today’s First Reading from the book of Judges and today’s Gospel reading from Luke provide incredible insight into the ways of God and the life of a disciple. In both readings, the proclamation of the birth of a child is made by an angel from heaven. In Judges, an angel of the Lord announces to the wife of Manoah, who was barren, that she would give birth to a son, Samson. This story is mirrored by today’s familiar Gospel in which the angel Gabriel makes known to Zechariah, husband of Elizabeth, that his wife would give birth to a Son named John despite her old age. Both Samson and John had been set apart. In the words of the angel, both had been “consecrated to God in the womb.” (Judges 13:5) Neither had chosen their consecration to the Lord, nor would they remember it. It was a gift. It was pure grace.
Today’s readings led me back to the Last Supper in the Gospel of John, as Christ says to His disciples, “It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you.” (John 15:16) And as I ponder these words, I cannot help but to praise God from depths of my heart for His grace. Although it may sound odd, in my personal relationship with God, it is an absolute blessing to not be able to remember my baptism. Why you may ask? It’s odd, I know. Well, I think it reminds me that even my faith is a pure gift and has been from day one- and I am humbled and awestruck by that reality! And in my moments of pride and self promotion, Jesus reminds me of my Baptism and whispers in my ear, “It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you.”
Today’s readings should remind us that we belong to God and that we have been consecrated to Him. But just as we belong to God, God also belongs to us. By this, I mean to say that God is close and our relationship with Him must be personal. Reading today’s Psalm, this fact couldn’t be more evident. Throughout the psalm, the psalmist refers to God as “my rock”, “my fortress,” “my God,” “my hope,” “my trust,” and “my strength.” Referring to God as “MY,” the personal relationship is clear. For me, today’s psalm is the prayer of someone who is consecrated to God. And in this prayer we acknowledge our personal dependency on the grace of Him who is our strength, rock, and fortress.
No, I did not choose to be baptized. God chose that moment of consecration for me and to Him I give all the credit. But this leads to one very important question…. If we were baptized as infants, when is our opportunity to choose what we have been given? My answer to that question is this: Every. Single. Day. Yes, a disciple is chosen, but a disciple is first and foremost a follower. By the way we think, talk, and act, we choose to follow Jesus and accept the grace of our baptism. As disciples, we are called to live lives that are set apart. Just as the angel commanded Samson’s mother that no razor shall touch his head and Gabriel commanded Zechariah that John would drink neither wine nor strong drink, we too are called to live differently. And in this way, we continue to deepen our consecration to Jesus and accept God’s grace.
In these remaining days of Advent, we are given another opportunity to choose Christ and to have Him born into our lives, so that we might live differently- lives that are set apart as disciples. Today, let us praise God for the grace of His son Jesus and pray that we may live lives that our consistent with our consecration. Amen.
- Ryan J. Mahle