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Gospel Reading for December 24, 2025 – Luke 1: 67-79
FREE TO WORSHIP
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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This Canticle of Zechariah which we recite during Morning Praise, is similar to Mary’s Magnificat which glorifies God for coming to the aid of Israel after some 2,000 years from Abraham. Zechariah, being filled with the Holy Spirit, knew that his son John (the Baptist) will be the one to prepare the people for the coming of the Saviour/Messiah who will come “. . . 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.”
Jesus saved us from the clutches of Satan, making us FREE TO WORSHIP God without fear. Nowadays, we need not secretly gather in catacombs for worship like the early Christians. Nowadays, we can openly profess our faith in God and live as Christ did. We do not have to pretend to be one with the enemy so we may avoid the risk of death. We are really so blessed, because in the Philippines, there are churches everywhere, giving us so much opportunity to worship God in a very special way. Our worship in Church inspires us to continue worshipping him even in the very ordinary events of our lives.
May our worship of God help us be holy and righteous in his sight all the days of our life!
