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Gospel Reading for 24 December 2024 – Luke 1: 67-79
BE SILENT
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.”
————
This is commonly called the Canticle of Zechariah, and is prayed during Morning Prayers within the Liturgy of the Hours.
Zechariah became mute because he did not believe what the angel told him – that his wife Elizabeth (who was old and barren) was going to bear a son who will prepare the way for Jesus, the Messiah. After nine months of not being able to speak, Zechariah is now full of praise to God for his son, John the Baptist. Probably, the nine months gave him so much time to ponder upon the miracle that John the Baptist was to him and his wife, and the people of Israel, that he proclaimed God’s wondrous deeds in such a beautiful canticle.
Once in a while, we need to BE SILENT, to stay put, to be able to ponder on the wonders that God is doing in our life. If we are to really be happy and at peace in life, we have to be assured of God’s immense love for us!
God of wonders! Help us see and feel your love everywhere!
