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Advent is just about spent. Later today our celebration of the Incarnation formally begins. And so it seems the appropriate time to consider: How has Advent been for me? What prompted reflection, action, gratitude, reconciliation, song? What was that last one – song? True, Christmas music has assaulted the malls from the last “Trick or Treat!” Advertisers have co-opted carols and cantatas to convince us the size of that gift really does matter. But now, in these final Advent hours, we are gifted with a sacred song. One of three canticles (hymns with biblical text) found in the opening chapters of Luke, today’s Gospel is a song of thanksgiving proclaimed by Zechariah upon the birth of his son, John the Baptist. Also called the Benedictus (for the first Latin word of the hymn), this is the canticle at daily Morning Prayer. Hear the good news, Zechariah sings out. Celebrate the God whose promise to our ancestors in faith is fulfilled: we are delivered. Not to wield power in the world, but to serve God and God’s people in holiness and justice all our days.
Advent is just about spent. A new church year has begun. Let service be our promise and thanksgiving our daily canticle, in harmony with Zechariah and proclaiming with the psalmist, “Forever will I sing the goodness of the Lord.
- Martha Dudich is a musician, liturgist and coordinator of the Center for FaithJustice’s weekly prayer experience, Soup & Psalms.
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