Big plans in store. The Christian concept of personal mission is something very clearly presented in the life of John the Baptist. From the moment the angel told Zechariah about John, he had a mission. In Jeremiah we read, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born, I dedicated you, a prophet to the nations I appointed you.” (Jer. 1:5) This line echoes today’s reading from Isiah: “For now the LORD has spoken who formed me as his servant from the womb.” (Is. 49:5)
The beauty of this concept is that everyone has a personal mission. Each one is called by God to be holy, and to do some concrete thing that glorifies God. John’s mission was public and concretely for the purpose of announcing salvation and calling to repentance. For many of us, the mission we are called to may be less public, but no less personal. We may not have had people asking “What, then, will this child be?” (Lk. 1:66), but that doesn’t take away the question that should come to each of us at certain points of our lives. What is my mission? What is it that God has created me for? And what am I called to do in this concrete situation?
Something More
We often focus on John the Baptist in this Gospel reading, but what about Zechariah? He was equally called to a personal mission, and though he had his doubts, he did carry out his mission. Many of us can be in his situation from time to time. We find ourselves not quite convinced of God’s plan as it has been presented to us. We doubt ourselves, we doubt others, and we doubt God. Zechariah teaches us the lesson of perseverance through doubt. His doubts did not hinder God’s plan, and even the consequences of his doubts became a further sign of God’s glory because Zechariah persevered in faith through those doubts. This is a bit of encouragement for us when we can think or feel that a failure in faith has completely ruined God’s plan. God can do great things in and through us when we continue to offer ourselves in faith.
Call to Repentance
Taking these two examples of Zechariah and John, what is it that we can apply ourselves to? Take this to prayer. Pray about the personal mission God has created you for. Remember that God can do all things as long as you offer yourself in Faith.
