Memorial of Saint Lucy, Virgin and Martyr
Have you ever felt as lowly as a worm? Or how about a maggot? I still remember a time as a young girl that I was playing in my friend’s backyard and we opened the lid to the garbage can and the underside of it was crawling with maggots. I had never seen a maggot before and I was horrified; I thought they were the most disgusting creatures ever. Sometimes I feel as lowly as a disgusting little maggot, unworthy of God’s love and mercy.
In today’s first reading from the prophet Isaiah (41: 13-20), Jacob is referred to as a worm and Israel is referred to as a maggot. And in their shame, the prophet Isaiah speaks the words of God to them, “Fear not, I will help you. I am the Lord, your God, who grasp your right hand…” In juxtaposition to the lowliness of Israel is the image of God grasping the people’s hand to help them. This passage brings to mind for me the image of a loving father or grandfather holding tightly to the hand of his little one. We are not left alone in our shame and lowliness. God, who is the liberator of Israel, is our liberator too.
The gospel reading (Matthew 11: 11-15) brings us to the relationship of Jesus and John the Baptist. In this short reading, Jesus speaks very highly of John and then goes on to say that being in the Kingdom of God is so great that even the least of those in the Kingdom will be greater than John the Baptist. Wow, that’s where I want to be.
And just as God told the Israelites to “fear not,” John’s father, Zachariah, was encouraged by the angel Gabriel to not be afraid when he announced that his wife, Elizabeth, was to bear a son and they were to name him John. John means “Yahweh has shown favor,” which was an indication the role John would have in salvation history preparing the way for the coming of Jesus the Messiah.
John had quite a following of people and could have decided to take the glory rather than directing them toward Jesus. But that was not his calling and he was humble enough to trust in the way that God had chosen for him. And we are encouraged to do the same. Fear not, the Lord God will grasp our right hand and will help us.
The Isaiah reading continues with the beautiful healing imagery of water for those parched with thirst for God. God promises not to forsake them; we are given the promise of the abundant water of rivers and fountains, marshlands and springs. The desert and dry ground become fertile ground where trees can grow. Signs of new life and new birth.
During this time of advent waiting and winter darkness, let us reflect on these images and find strength and comfort in the hope that we await and the security of God’s hand in ours, our liberator, our help. And let us answer the call to bring that help, to reach out our hand, to those in need in our homes, our families, our neighborhood, our workplaces, our church, our communities.
- Eileen Miller