Fr. Lawrence Jagdfeld, O.F.M., Administrator
We all know what leftovers are. Thanksgiving was just a few weeks ago after all. I am sure that if your family dinner that day was anything like ours, you had your share of leftovers.
Those of you who have shopped in a fabric store or for a new carpet also know what a remnant is. It is, after all is said and done, a fancy word for leftovers.
The prophet Zephaniah uses this term to describe the people who remain faithful to the Sinai covenant after the exile. St. Luke picks up on this term in the introductory chapters of his Gospel by introducing us to several significant remnants: Zechariah, Elizabeth, Simeon, Anna, Mary and Joseph. Each of these men and women represent the remnant of Israel.
Zephaniah is careful to explain that the remnant of Israel is not necessarily perfect. They are imperfect human beings who place their trust at various levels in the promise of God's providential care. Each in his or her own way is instrumental in ushering in the Messianic Age. Each sings his or her praise of God's loving and constant care. Almost none of them see the actual day of salvation as the only one to survive Jesus' passion and death is his mother. Despite the fact that they do not witness it themselves, however, they joyously sing of the fulfillment of God's promise.
Remnant – leftovers – never looked so good.