Posted by The WORD in other words (2019) by Father Herman Suico SVD – Saint Arnold Janssen Parish, Cebu City
Saturday 15th Week in Ordinary Time
Since I began praying the Canticle of Zechariah during morning prayers, I have often been touched by the beauty of these lines:
“In the tender compassion of our God, the dawn from on high shall break upon us, to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace” (Luke 1:78–79).
These words overflow with the sweetness of God’s mercy toward us, weak sinners. They give hope that our broken hearts can find an anchor, and they promise that even with our tattered spirits and wounded lives, joy can still be ours—because we have a compassionate Father who loves us.
This image was foretold long ago by Isaiah, who prophesied about the Servant of Yahweh filled with God’s Spirit:
“A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not quench, until he brings justice to victory” (Isaiah 42:3; echoed in Matthew 12:20).
The Servant would come not with harshness, but with mercy and compassion, lifting up the weak and restoring the broken.
The Lord Himself experienced the worst in us. He endured hatred, mockery, and violence. He felt the sting of a slap, the humiliation of spittle, and the piercing pain of insults that cut His heart. Yet, despite all this, He chose to love us. “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34).
His mercy is not abstract—it is tested in suffering and proven in love.
In other words, our future is full of hope not because of our strength, but because of His love. “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning” (Lamentations 3:22–23).
Even in darkness, the dawn from on high breaks upon us, guiding our feet into the way of peace.
One comment