Jan. 1st – “TODAY…a Saviour has been born to you”
Luke finishes his narrative of the birth of Jesus saying that “Mary treasured all these things and pondered them in her heart.” She does not keep them as memory of the past, but as something she will remember for the rest of her life.
That is not a casual remark. Mary is a model of faith. According to the evangelist, believing in Jesus our Saviour does not simply consist in remembering past events, but in reliving today His saving power that can revitalize our human lives.
Hence Luke makes use of a very original literary form. Jesus does not simply belong to the past. The evangelist very deliberately keeps saying that the salvation of the risen Christ is being offered to us TODAY, just now, as long as we go out to meet Him. Let us consider some of these examples.
This is how the birth of Jesus is announced: “Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you.” Today Jesus could be born to us. He could enter our lives and change them for good. With Him we could experience a totally new life.
In a village of Judea, they brought a paralytic to Jesus. He felt pity because he saw he was blocked by the evil spirit and offered him pardon: “Your sins are forgiven.” The people around were astonished and said: “Today we have seen wonderful things.” We, too, can experience today the forgiveness, the peace and interior joy if we allow ourselves to be healed by Jesus.
In the city of Jericho, Jesus stayed at the home of Zacchaeus, a rich and influential tax collector. This encounter with Jesus transformed him: he decided to return all the money he had taken from many people and shared the rest with the poor. Jesus said: “Today, salvation has come to his house.” If we allow Jesus to enter into our lives, today we shall begin a new life of solidarity and compassion.
Jesus was dying on the cross between two thieves. One of them had started to believe in him and said: “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus turned to him and said: “Today you will be with me in paradise.” Similarly, our own death may turn into a day of salvation for us. On that day, we shall hear the words of Jesus: come, trust in me, because today you will be with me forever.
Today, we begin a New Year. For us, however, what can really be good or new? Who can bring give us new life or joy? Is there any psychologist who can teach us to become more humane? Mere good wishes cannot change our lives. What really will change us must be found within our own selves. Salvation is offered to us each day. We cannot simply wait for it. Today could be for each one of us a day of salvation.