"Fear not, I will help you." These are the comforting words from our First Reading. To understand them better, let’s reflect on Ha...
"Fear not, I will help you." These are the comforting words from our First Reading. To understand them better, let’s reflect on Hand, Herald, and History.
First, the Hand. Isaiah paints a beautiful picture of God saying, "I grasp your right hand." Think of a parent crossing a busy street with a child. The parent holds the child's hand tight. The child might still see the scary cars, but the grip of the father gives him courage. God is telling you today: "I have your hand." St. Damasus, the Pope we remember today, faced a church divided by heresy, but he held onto God’s hand, trusting that the Lord would guide the Church.
Second, the Herald. In the Gospel, Jesus praises John the Baptist, calling him the greatest born of women. John was the Herald—the one who announced the King. A herald does not draw attention to himself; he points to the one coming after him. We are all called to be heralds. Does your life point to Jesus? When people look at you, do they see a reflection of Christ’s love?
Third, History. Jesus mentions that John is the "Elijah who is to come," connecting the present moment to the history of salvation. St. Damasus was a man of history; he restored the catacombs and wrote inscriptions on the tombs of martyrs so that the Church would never forget its roots. We must remember our history—our personal history of how God has saved us in the past. Remembering God’s past faithfulness gives us courage for the future.
So today, remember: God holds your hand, He calls you to be His herald, and He invites you to trust Him based on His faithfulness throughout history.
No comments