Gospel LK 1:67-79
Zechariah his father, filled with the Holy Spirit, prophesied, saying:
“Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel;
for he has come to his people and set them free.
He has raised up for us a mighty Savior,
born of the house of his servant David.
Through his prophets he promised of old
that he would save us from our enemies,
from the hands of all who hate us.
He promised to show mercy to our fathers
and to remember his holy covenant.
This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham:
to set us free from the hand of our enemies,
free to worship him without fear,
holy and righteous in his sight
all the days of our life.
You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High,
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,
to give his people knowledge of salvation
by the forgiveness of their sins.
In the tender compassion of our God
the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death,
and to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
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Reflection:
Today’s gospel about Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, is referred to as “The Canticle of Zechariah.”
A “canticle” is a descriptive poem or song which sets forth the tone or essence of what took place.
Saint Luke captures what happened to Zechariah thousands of years ago in a way that touches our hearts.
Seeking goodness, in what can be a callous world, we almost hear the Holy Spirit whispering to us:
“You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High,
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,
to give his people knowledge of salvation
by the forgiveness of their sins.”
As infants, our parents brought us before the altar of God. The priest baptized each of us priest, prophet, and king.
As prophets, we, like John, are called to speak and act on behalf of God.
The broken alcoholic or addict that walks into a meeting of Alcoholic Anonymous is met by a recovering alcoholic who tells his own story of brokenness and recovery giving hope, as God’s prophet, that with faith in God, “the dawn from on high shall break upon us.”
The mother who has been huddling on the floor with her children asleep beside her, reaches out to My Brother’s Keeper. She is brought furniture and food and is given a crucifix with the words, “We’re just the delivery people, this is the man who gave you the furniture.”
Our action foretells “the tender compassion of our God.”
God affords us the privilege to reach out to the downtrodden, the discouraged, the sinner and the broken, prophesying that through our compassion and help, God’s love will “shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.”
As God’s prophets, we are called to be the purveyors of His love; without regard for worthiness or unworthiness.
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“One who has been touched by grace will no longer look on those who stray as “those evil people” or “those poor people who need our help.” Nor must we search for signs of “loveworthiness.” Grace teaches us that God loves because of who God is, not because of who we are.” Philip Yancey