Journeying With Christ: The Coptic Month of Kiahk of the Nativity FastSample

Week 4 Theme: The Birth of St. John the Forerunner

Day 4: The Dawn of Redemption

In today's reading, we encounter the prophetic words of Zacharias as he proclaims the dawn of redemption and the fulfillment of God's covenant with His people. This proclamation fills our hearts with hope and joy as we journey with Christ. The theme of redemption resonates deeply within us, and through the words of the Early Church Father, St. Athanasius, we are invited to embrace the dawn of redemption and rejoice in the mercy and grace of our Savior.

St. Zacharias' prophecy declares the arrival of salvation and the deliverance of God's people. He acknowledges that God has visited His people and has raised up a horn of salvation for them. This horn of salvation refers to the Messiah, who would bring liberation and deliverance to a world enslaved by sin and brokenness. St. Athanasius beautifully expresses the significance of the Incarnation, saying, "He became what we are, that He might make us what He is" (On the Incarnation). The dawn of redemption is marked by the marvelous act of God taking on human flesh, entering our world to rescue and restore us.

The redemption we experience through Christ is not a mere transaction but a profound transformation. It is an invitation to embrace a new way of life, freed from the power of sin and death. St. Athanasius further explains, "He, indeed, assumed humanity that we might become God" (On the Incarnation). Through Christ's redemptive work, we are invited into a divine union, participating in the very life of God. This is the dawn of redemption - the breaking of the chains that held us captive and the opening of a path toward eternal communion with our Creator.

As we journey with Christ, the dawn of redemption brings renewed hope to our weary souls. It reminds us that no matter how broken or lost we may feel, there is a Savior who extends His hand to lift us up and set us free. St. Athanasius assures us, "For He was made man that we might be made God" (On the Incarnation). The dawn of redemption invites us to share in the divine nature and experience the fullness of life that God intended for us (theosis).

This journey of redemption is not an isolated event but a continuous process. It involves our ongoing participation and response to God's grace. As we embrace the dawn of redemption, we are called to live transformed lives, marked by righteousness, holiness, and love. Our transformation into the likeness of Christ is the result of His redemptive work within us, empowering us to live as children of God.

In the dawn of redemption, we find hope, joy, and purpose and it reshapes our perspective and compels us to share this transformative message with others. For God has brought us forth again to the truth and we are called to be ambassadors of this truth, reflecting the light of Christ and inviting others into the journey of redemption. St. Irenaeus of Lyons, an Early Church Father, says, "For the truth is the light of the heart, and the light of the heart is the life of the soul".

As we reflect on the dawn of redemption, let us embrace the transformative power of Christ's work in our lives. May we rejoice in the mercy and grace extended to us and respond with gratitude and love and as we journey with Christ, may we boldly share the message of redemption, inviting others to experience the fullness of life found in Him.