You, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;
for you will go before our God
to prepare the ways of the Promised One,
to give knowledge of salvation to God’s people
by the forgiveness of their sins.
By the tender mercy of our God,
the dawn from on high will break upon us,
to give light to those who sit in darkness
and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace.
—Luke 1.76-79
You’ve been given a gem to give away,
a lantern in your chest that lights the path for others.
It’s not the dark stone of what’s wrong with them
but the bright key to their prison door,
the key that is light, the light that is the truth
that the door is not locked, that there is no door,
that they have nothing to fear from God,
that they are forgiven.
Only free from that cage can they live
without fear, in holiness before God.
Only that light will lead them through their darkness.
Only when they have received mercy
can they love mercy and do justice
and walk humbly with God.
It will not be easy to be such a prophet.
But you are free, and have nothing to fear.
The light is in you. Go.