Each morning, in the liturgy of the hours, the canticle of Zachariah is chanted. For the next several weeks, we will reflect upon this canticle, beginning with: “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel: he has come to his people and set them free.” (Luke 1: 68)
Eucharistic Prayer #4 recalls in a lengthy but beautiful dialogue, how the Lord God has faithfully kept his covenant with Israel, His chosen people. “For you came in mercy to the aid of all, so that those who seek might find you. Time and again you offered them covenants and through the profits taught them to lookforward to salvation.” We are God’s chosen people, by our baptism. We too have made a covenant with the Lord, that we will be God’s faithful people. We are set firmly upon the rock of Peter’s faith (See Matthew 16:13-20). We are members of the Body of Christ. As members, we grow in grace and holiness through the power of the sacraments through the working of the Holy Spirit.
Through the sacrament of reconciliation, we are set free as we come to this sacrament with a contrite heart. Although our sins are before us always (in reference to Psalm 51), through God’s mercy, we are forgiven and freed from the burdens of sin and are constantly seeking to rebuild and walk more firmly in the light of Christ. “Lord, your love is eternal; do not forsake the work of your hands”. (Lectionary Response for 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time , Cycle A. )