Benedictus

 Now Elizabeth' full time came for her to be delivered, and she brought forth a son.  When her neighbors and relatives heard how the Lord had shown great mercy to her, they rejoiced with her.  So it was, on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him by the name of his father, Zacharias. 

His mother answered and said, "No; he shall be called John."  But they said to her, "There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name."  So they made signs to his father -- what he would have him called.  And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, saying, "His name is John."  So they all marveled.  Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, praising God.  Then fear came on all who dwelt around them; and all these sayings were discussed throughout all the hill country of Judea.  And all those who heard them kept them in their hearts, saying, "What kind of child will this be?"  And the hand of the Lord was with him.

Now his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying:
"Blessed is the Lord God of Israel,
For He has visited and redeemed His people,
And has raised up a horn of salvation for us
In the house of His servant David,
As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets,
Who have been since the world began,
That we should be saved from our enemies
And from the hand of all who hate us,
To perform the mercy promised to our fathers
And to remember His holy covenant,
The oath which He swore to our father Abraham:
To grant us that we,
Being delivered from the hand of our enemies,
Might serve Him without fear,
In holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life.
And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest;
For you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways,
To give knowledge of salvation to His people
By the remission of their sins,
Through the tender mercy of our God,
With which the Dayspring from on high has visited us;
To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death,
To guide our feet into the way of peace."

So the child grew and became strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his manifestation to Israel.

- Luke 1:57-80

In the first reading for today, we have read the story of Mary's song, called the Magnificat.  Now Mary arose in those days (after Gabriel's Annunciation to her) and went into the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah, and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth.  And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.  Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!  But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?  For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.  Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord."  And Mary said:  "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.   For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; for behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.  For He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name.  And His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation.  He has shown strength with His arm; he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.  He has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted the lowly.  He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He has sent away empty.  He has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy,  As He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed forever."  And Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her house.

 Now Elizabeth' full time came for her to be delivered, and she brought forth a son.  When her neighbors and relatives heard how the Lord had shown great mercy to her, they rejoiced with her.  So it was, on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him by the name of his father, Zacharias.  My study bible tells us that circumcision was a sign of Israel's covenant with God and the means by which a male became a member of God's community (Genesis 17:10; Leviticus 12:3).  In Christ, circumcision is fulfilled in baptism (see Colossians 2:11).

His mother answered and said, "No; he shall be called John."  But they said to her, "There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name."  So they made signs to his father -- what he would have him called.  And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, saying, "His name is John."   My study bible says that John means "grace of God."  It says, "By insisting on the name God chose for her son, Elizabeth affirms God has called John to a specific mission (see also 1:31; Genesis 17:5, 15; 32:28)."

So they all marveled.  Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, praising God.  Then fear came on all who dwelt around them; and all these sayings were discussed throughout all the hill country of Judea.  And all those who heard them kept them in their hearts, saying, "What kind of child will this be?"  And the hand of the Lord was with him.  Now his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying:  "Blessed is the Lord God of Israel,
For He has visited and redeemed His people, and has raised up a horn of salvation for us   In the house of His servant David, as He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets, who have been since the world began, that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us, to perform the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant, the oath which He swore to our father Abraham:  To grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life.  And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest; for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways, to give knowledge of salvation to His people by the remission of their sins, through the tender mercy of our God, with which the Dayspring from on high has visited us; to give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace."   A note tell us:  "When Zacharias assented to God's will, his mouth was opened.  Just as prophecy is restored at the Incarnation of Christ, so Zachariaas, as high priest, can speak again now that the Savior and His forerunne3r have come.  Note Zacharias immediately declares Christ (vv. 68-69), and secondly declares the role of his own son as prophet of the Highest."

So the child grew and became strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his manifestation to Israel.   My study bible tells us:  "Dwelling in the desert, away from the stains and wickedness of the masses, John is able to fight temptation and grow strong in spirit.  According to the tradition of the Church, John was brought to the deserts by Elizabeth when Zacharias was martyred, and there was ministered to by angels."

Zacharias has been rendered mute because of his doubt of the word of Gabriel as he performed his priestly duties at the altar.  But at his assent to the name John for his son, he is filled with the Holy Spirit.  If you think about it, this name is the sign that the Baptist isn't just the property of his father and mother, he will not merely reflect family lineage -- he's not given a family name.  Rather, John is a child consecrated to God, filled with the Holy Spirit, and this is what the selection of the name tells us.  At Zacharias' assent to this name by writing it on a tablet (making certain we understand its meaning as "grace of God"), he is filled with the Holy Spirit, and a song of prophecy results.  It is a song prophesying the coming of the Lord of salvation, and the role that will be played by John, whom we shall know as John the Baptist.  It is a song of blessing; we call it the Benedictus.  It is also a song of deliverance from enemies, which is another aspect of a redeemer that we don't often think about.  It is the meaning of the term "to ransom."  The purpose for this deliverance from enemies is to worship in peace, and to spread the light of the "Dayspring" comes in visitation of His people, "to give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace."  The Holy Spirit speaks through Zachariah, and we are to take his words to heart.  From what do we wish to be delivered, and what for?  There is a clear expression here of the purpose of our lives, of what freedom an enemy curbs in our capture, and what we are liberated in order to do in peace.  Can we set our lives on this sort of plane, on this basis for an understanding of freedom and what it means?  Do we understand what it is to find salvation through the "tender mercy" of God, and the greatness of the mission to give light and to "guide our feet into the way of peace?"  This is the central core of the message, that a redeemer will ransom us in order to spread God's light and peace, to lift the darkness and those who suffer in the shadow of death.  As we celebrate the coming of the Light, let us remember what life is all about at its core, in the center of the message here.

Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John

 But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.  And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.  For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink.  He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb.  And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God.  He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, 'to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,' and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."  And Zacharias said to the angel, "How shall I know this?  For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years."  And the angel answered and said to him, "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings.  But behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time."  And the people waited for Zacharias, and marveled that he lingered so long in the temple.  But when he came out, he could not speak to them; and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple, for he beckoned to them and remained speechless.

So it was, as soon as the days of his service were completed, that he departed to his own house.  Now after those days his wife Elizabeth conceived; and she hid herself five months, saying, "Thus the Lord has dealt with me, in the days when He looked on me, to take away my reproach among people."

- Luke 1:13-25

On Saturday, we read from the beginning of Luke's story of the Gospel, of the unfolding of the mission of Christ in the world.  There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah.  His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.  And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.  But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well advanced in years.  So it was, that while he was serving as priest before God in the order of his division, according to the custom of the priesthood, his lot fell to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.  And the whole multitude of the people was praying outside at the hour of incense.  Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense.  And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.

  But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John."  My study bible points out that Zacharias' prayer wasn't to have a son, but for the atonement of the sins of Israel (Hebrews 9:7).  Gabriel's announcement is a revelation both that Zacharias' prayer for atonement will be answered and that Elizabeth will conceive a son.  The atonement will be announced by John, who will identify Christ as "the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29).

And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.  For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink.  He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb.  And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God.  He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, 'to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."   Elijah, according to my study bible, is expected to reappear from heaven as the forerunner of the second coming of the Lord (Malachi 4:5).  John the Baptist fulfills the spirit of Elijah as he is the forerunner of the Lord's first coming -- as Jesus will teach (see Matthew 11:14).

And Zacharias said to the angel, "How shall I know this?  For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years."  And the angel answered and said to him, "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings.  But behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time."  And the people waited for Zacharias, and marveled that he lingered so long in the temple.  But when he came out, he could not speak to them; and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple, for he beckoned to them and remained speechless.   My study bible tells us, referring to Gabriel's word to Zacharias, You will be mute:  "Zacharias is disciplined for his lack of faith, yet this also serves as proof that Gabriel's announcement is true.  The silencing of the high priest also reveals a deeper mystery.  The Messiah was expected to fulfill three crucial roles held by various people in the Old Testament:  prophet, priest, and king.  Only Jesus Christ can be said to have fulfilled all three offices perfectly.  He is the true Prophet (Deut. 18:15-18), the true King (23:3; Isaiah 9:6; Micah 5:1), and the true High Priest (Psalm 109:4; Hebrews 4:14).  In preparation for Christ's coming, God had silenced for the prophets for many years [we will speak further to this regarding verse 24 further on], and also permitted an illegitimate usurper to occupy the position of king of Judea [Herod the Great, who was not himself Jewish but called king of Judea].  Here, in the last days before Christ's coming, the high priest is also silenced.  With these three roles vacant, illegitimate, and silent, all is ready for the Son of God to be revealed as Prophet, King, and Priest."

So it was, as soon as the days of his service were completed, that he departed to his own house.  Now after those days his wife Elizabeth conceived; and she hid herself five months, saying, "Thus the Lord has dealt with me, in the days when He looked on me, to take away my reproach among people."  My study bible tells us that the conception of St. John the Baptist is celebrated liturgically in the Eastern Church on September 23, confirming the sanctity of marital relations for those past childbearing years.  Since the time of Malachi, God had not sent a great prophet to Israel (see 1 Maccabees 9:27).  It says, "Silencing of the prophets served to heighten the anticipation of the Messiah and to make it all the more evident when He came.  As John the Baptist was the prophet preparing the way for Christ, he was kept hidden until Christ was conceived [Elizabeth hid herself].  Once Christ was conceived, John was revealed through the prophetic act of leaping in Elizabeth's womb."

 We see the importance of prophecy to the Gospels, and to the whole of Scripture, the whole arc of the word of God as we know it.  In today's story, Israel has been without prophets for many generations, and there is more to the story in that so many things are not as they should be.  The man on the throne who calls himself the king of Judea is not a Jew.  How can this be the place of the people of God without prophecy, and without a true king for the people?  It is a time when people are already anxiously looking for a redeemer, and the priest Zacharias prays for atonement for the people.  It is a time of expectation and need and hope.  Things are already awry, and barren in a certain sense of the nation of the people of God.  So we have Elizabeth, a woman whom God loves, who stands blameless in her heart as God knows her, but who has a reproach among the society because she has no child.  She and her husband are by now older in years.  And yet the prophecy comes, the announcement of Gabriel.  They will have not just a son, but one filled with the Holy Spirit, a holy man who neither drinks wine nor strong drink.  He will "be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb.  And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God.  He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, 'to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,' and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.'"   The quotation is from the prophecy of Malachi (4:5-6) regarding the return of Elijah.    As we have noted above, Christ will call John the one who returns in the spirit of Elijah.  So powerful is the word of the archangel that Zacharias' doubt is enough to render him mute in the face of this extraordinary message, Gabriel's unimaginable good news.  As we noted on Saturday, an archangel bearing an announcement brings something beyond our understanding and comprehension, and represents a power that is uncontainable and unpredictable.  We have only to accept as a response; any other brings its consequences to us, so great is this power with which we interact.  It is a time of the "breaking in" of the kingdom of heaven, a time when God's power is asserting itself and revealing things to us "which will be fulfilled in their own time," as Gabriel says to Zacharias.  God is breaking into history, shaking up a situation in which there is so much that has seemed to go wrong, and this cannot happen without a kind of violence that tears the curtain between heaven and earth (as will literally happen with the curtain of the temple at Jesus' death).  John is the prophet who straddles both the Old Covenant and the New.  He is the last in the line of the Old and the first in the line of the New. He is the Forerunner (Prodromos in the Greek).  He is the herald who will bear the news before the arrival of the king, preparing the people for this event.  His life will be one of great sacrifice for this purpose.  From his conception, his gracious life will bear out this role, as we will see.

Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John

Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things which have been fulfilled among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus, that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed.

There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well advanced in years.

So it was, that while he was serving as priest before God in the order of his division, according to the custom of the priesthood, his lot fell to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. And the whole multitude of the people was praying outside at the hour of incense. Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And when Zecharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall rink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb. And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, 'to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,' and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."

And Zacharias said to the angel, "How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years." And the angel answered and said to him, "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings. But behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time." And the people waited for Zacharias, and marveled that he lingered so long in the temple. But when he came out, he could not speak to them; and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple, for he beckoned to them and remained speechless. So it was, as soon as the days of his service were completed, that he departed to his own house.

Now after those days his wife Elizabeth conceived; and she hid herself five months, saying, "Thus the Lord has dealt with me, in the days when He looked on me, to take away my reproach among people."

- Luke 1:1-25

As we move closer to Christmas, the readings shift. In the gospel of Matthew, we have reached the point (in Saturday's reading) in which Jesus prepares His disciples for the time in which we now live, the time in which we await His return. He has promised the disciples that He will return. He has told several parables, teaching them watchfulness, expectation, and what it is to be good servants in the Master's absence. In Saturday's reading, He spoke not another parable, but of the Judgment that will happen upon His return. Like sheep and goats, all will be separated -- to His right hand and left. What is the criterion? "I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me." Then the righteous will ask, "When did we do these things?" And the King will answer and say to them, "Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me."

Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things which have been fulfilled among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus, that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed. Today the lectionary takes us to the beginning of Luke's gospel. Luke makes it clear that His intent is to write down the things heard directly from eyewitnesses and ministers of the word as they were delivered "to us" -- to those in the early Church. Theophilus was a prominent Gentile who had received Christian instruction. Luke's gospel is therefore a "testimony to the testimony" of the eyewitnesses, the disciples who had known Jesus directly.

There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well advanced in years. Luke, making a complete record, is the only evangelist who teaches us about the birth of John the Baptist. We note that both Zacharias and Elizabeth come from the lineage of the priests of Israel. They are both "blameless" and "righteous" people. However, they suffer socially: Elizabeth is barren. Over and over again, the Old Testament tells us of such women, who become the mothers of great holy figures: Sarah, Rebekah, Hannah, and others. Their advanced age, their state of righteousness despite social "reproach," is a testimony to their faith.

So it was, that while he was serving as priest before God in the order of his division, according to the custom of the priesthood, his lot fell to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. My study bible notes: "Each priest was assigned to a division. There were 24 divisions in all, each serving a week at a time by rotation. [Zacharias is of the division of Abijah.] The responsibilities of the priests in the division were decided by lot."

And the whole multitude of the people was praying outside at the hour of incense. Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And when Zecharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall rink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb. And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, 'to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,' and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord." The first thing we notice is that "fear fell upon Zacharias" and the angel told him, "Do not be afraid." This will be important to note a little further along in this story. From the angel's words, we understand that Zacharias has prayed for a son. The name John means "the grace of God." John will be a special child, set apart for the Lord. He will become a prophet like the great prophets of the Old Testament. Jesus will call him the greatest among the prophets. He has a mission, to prepare the people for the Lord. As my study bible notes, "Elijah, one of the greatest prophets of Israel, was expected to reappear from heaven in order to anoint the Messiah."

And Zacharias said to the angel, "How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years." And the angel answered and said to him, "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings. But behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time." And the people waited for Zacharias, and marveled that he lingered so long in the temple. But when he came out, he could not speak to them; and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple, for he beckoned to them and remained speechless. So it was, as soon as the days of his service were completed, that he departed to his own house. My study bible notes, "Zacharias' question indicates a lack of complete faith in God's promise. Compare this with Abram's response when he was promised a son" 'he believed in the Lord" (Gen. 15:3-6). . . . Losing his speech serves both as discipline for Zacharias's unbelief and as a sign of the truth of Gabriel's announcement." What we note in Zacharias's fearful and troubled approach is a hint of something we commented on in the readings from last week: the fearful servant who his his talents instead of expanding them and creating yield from them. So much of the stories in both Old and New Testaments are illustrations about faith, and especially our capacity for faith. Human beings are not perfect -- rather it is a capacity for a faith relationship with God that seems to bear out the holy figures that shape this religious history. Often, the figures of the Bible bear out the growth of such faith and the relationship to God. The failure to receive such grace may spur a rebuke, correction, or temporary setback, if only to work to instruct and build this relationship. Gabriel "stands in the presence of God." Therefore His message is God's word to Zacharias. "Angel" means messenger in the Greek. John the Baptist will also be a messenger (in icons of the Eastern Church, he is often depicted with wings to denote this identity). And so, of course, is this gospel, a testimony to the word of the messengers who were the apostles.

Now after those days his wife Elizabeth conceived; and she hid herself five months, saying, "Thus the Lord has dealt with me, in the days when He looked on me, to take away my reproach among people." Elizabeth is thus blessed, and her "reproach among people" is taken away. We are careful to note that faith does not depend upon outcomes, and the opinions "among people." John the Baptist is a blessing (as we may consider all children), born by the grace of God.

God's love transcends all things, and so, as in this story, what God has given us may also be consecrated back to God. John the Baptist is truly a firstborn, one who will be in fact "set apart" for the things of God. He will be the greatest among the prophets, and come "in the spirit and power of Elijah" to prepare the people for the Lord. He will be a towering figure among his own people and in his own time, widely revered as a holy man. But he will also suffer for the Lord. As we begin these readings leading to the day we celebrate the birth of Christ, let us consider today the announcement of Gabriel, the good news of the gospel. Let us remember all the "ministers of the word" that has been delivered to us, and think of the message of John the Baptist. Before his birth, the great announcement came, directly from the extraordinary messenger, Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God. He brings Zacharias "glad tidings" and was sent (the root meaning of the word "apostle") for this purpose. So over and over again, the gospels bear witness to this message, these glad tidings, as we begin over again the story of Christ's birth. In the Greek, there is one word Gabriel uses to describe his mission: "evangelizo" (εὐαγγελίζω) -- to bring good news. Let us remember the roots of the gospel, as we live again the report, direct from the one who stands in the presence of God, of the glad tidings we celebrate this week. As Elizabeth and Zacharias, can we grasp the blessing given to each of us?

To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace

Now his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying:

"Blessed is the Lord God of Israel,

For He has visited and redeemed His people,

And has raised up a horn of salvation for us

In the house of His servant David,

As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets,

who have been since the world began,

That we should be saved from our enemies

And from the hand of all who hate us,

To perform the mercy promised to our fathers

And to remember His holy covenant,

The oath which He swore to our father Abraham:

to grant us that we,

Being delivered from the hand of our enemies,

Might serve Him without fear,

In holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life.

"And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest:

For you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways,

To give knowledge of salvation to His people

By the remission of their sins,

Through the tender mercy of our God,

With which the Dayspring from on high has visited us;

To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death,

To guide our feet into the way of peace."

So the child grew and became strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his manifestation to Israel.

- Luke 1:67-80

In yesterday's lectionary reading, we read the Magnificat of Mary, the beautiful prayer that echoes down the ages, through the women of the bible before Mary with whom the Lord interacted and bestowed grace, through whom we received works of the Holy Spirit. See My soul magnifies the Lord. Mary also went to her kinswoman Elizabeth, who was pregnant with John the Baptist, and stayed with her through his birth. As Mary helped to bring the baby John into the world, so the Baptist will be the forerunner, helping to deliver into the world the ministry of Christ, of Jesus, Mary's child. Today we read of Zacharias' first words after his child is born. On Tuesday, we read of Zacharias' vision in the temple as he burned the incense, and the visitation and prophecy of Gabriel to him. Zacharias was mute from that encounter, his failure to embrace the prophecy made to him. In today's reading, the baby John has just been circumcised, and Zacharias has stunned his relatives by giving the baby a name that is not a part of his lineage, as he was guided to do by Gabriel. John means "God is Gracious."

My study bible has a note on this song of Zacharias in today's passage. "The song of the priest Zacharias (often called the Benedictus, the first word of the song in Latin) is a prophetic hymn of praise to God. God is blessed for His gracious and redeeming acts among His people in fulfillment of the messianic promises now at hand. Verses 76 and 77 speak of John and his role as the prophet of God preparing the people to receive Christ."

Now his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, . . . Throughout the readings of recent days, we learn about the action of the Holy Spirit and His communicative bonding through all people whom He touches. Mary and Elizabeth met together, and immediately understood the holy connection between them and their babies. Here, Zacharias' tongue is loosened at the naming of his son according to the instructions of the angel Gabriel, and he prophesies for all of us to read.

. . . saying: "Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, for He has visited and redeemed His people, and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David . . . " Throughout this prophesy, there are many references to Old Testament Scripture, echoes of events past, and the prayers that fill the events of the history of Israel, or the People of God. This canticle is a prophecy of the fulfillment of prophecy, the manifestation of the Messiah. A "horn" is symbolic of power or strength, and in this case it is the power of salvation ... in the house of His servant David. Jesus' name means "God is Salvation" and he will be considered "Savior" and "Redeemer." Through His father/guardian Joseph, Jesus is of the house of David.

"As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets, who have been since the world began, that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us, to perform the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant, the oath which He swore to our father Abraham: to grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life." The prophesy of redemption lies in the freedom to worship and to serve. The enemies are those who oppose the worship of the God of Israel, who seek to enslave and curb the freedom of those who wish to worship. The entire canticle is in the tone of one who wishes the freedom to serve and to fulfill the covenant between God and God's people, sworn to the forefather Abraham. To serve in holiness and righteousness is to be redeemed by being freed from the slavery of sin. It is a poem of spiritual liberation - the divine freedom to serve God as the manifestation of the liberty promised by the Messiah.

"And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest: For you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways, to give knowledge of salvation to His people by the remission of their sins . . ." John the Baptist will be the Forerunner, the one who heralds the Messiah and His ministry. Jesus will call him the greatest of the prophets. John will preach, echoing the prophet Isaiah, that the people are to "prepare the way of the Lord," and to "make His paths straight." He will "preach a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins."

". . . Through the tender mercy of our God, with which the Dayspring from on high has visited us; to give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace." The Greek that is translated here as "Dayspring" is literally the word for "sunrise." It also is used to mean the East, the direction from which the sunlight comes, and the sun rises out of the darkness. The Dayspring from "on high" is the Messiah, who comes to us through the "tender mercy of our God" -- "for God so loved the world." The shadow of death is the shadow of sin and of all evil, the enslavement from which we need the liberation praised in this beautiful canticle. And perhaps most beautiful of all, the gift of spiritual liberation is the promised "way of peace."

So the child grew and became strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his manifestation to Israel. My study bible notes that "two things in particular are important for the child John: (1) he needs to grow strong physically, and (2) he needs to grow strong in spirit. Like some Old Testament prophets, especially Elijah, John practiced solitude with God until he was called to begin his ministry." John exemplifies the spiritual freedom of the prophets, of those who are dedicated with all their soul, and heart and mind and strength" to serving the God of Israel. He is freed from the fetters of the society, liberated to God's love so that he may preach and fulfill his role as greatest of the prophets, and Forerunner and herald to Christ.

The theme in today's canticle is that of spiritual liberation. We don't often hear talk of this necessarily in a Christian context. But spiritual freedom is an essential part of our understanding of who we are, to my mind. In this context of the prophesy of Zacharias, given through the blessing of the Holy Spirit, liberation - true, essential freedom of the people - is the freedom to worship and to serve God, the God through which a covenant was made with their ancestors in the person of their father Abraham. To fulfill this prophecy is to be redeemed from slavery to death and its shadow, to the evil of the world, and to live life in communion with God, as God's people. There is a picture of this liberation in Jeremiah chapter 31, in language which is echoed (in verse 77) of Zacharias' canticle: "No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, ‘Know the LORD,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,' declares the LORD. 'For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.'” True liberation will come for the people of God through the anointing of the Holy Spirit for all the people, which the Messiah will leave as the culmination of His incarnation and ministry to the world. Liberation for the whole of the people of God comes from the lifting of the darkness and the shadow of death through a knowledge of the Lord. Knowing takes on its deepest connotation of communion here, of relatedness and relationship. We will be blessed through a ministry of the Anointed One - for whom John the Baptist prepares the way - who will in turn anoint us. This is a liberation of His people for a purpose: to guide our feet into the way of peace. This liberating Messiah is not a fearful warrior, but a guide to peace, to the peace that comes to each one of us in this kingdom linked by the anointing, by His Spirit. Jesus will teach at the Last Supper (in John chapter 14): "But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives." Let us remember that His Holy Spirit is also called the Spirit of Truth, and that it is in John's Gospel that Jesus teaches, "Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." This Helper, Comforter, Advocate is bestowed upon us all through this ministry for liberation, freedom - so that we may learn how to walk the paths of peace, which is the true blessing of a life lived in the freedom to serve and worship, to practice holiness and righteousness in this kingdom, in all the infinite ways the Spirit can teach us to do that in our lives. The Benedictus, the canticle of Zacharias, contains it all, prophesied for us - for all who can accept it, and claim this liberation, and learn the true meaning of peace.

Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard

There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well advanced in years.

So it was, that while he was serving as priest before God in the order of his division, according to the custom of the priesthood, his lot fell to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. And the whole multitude of the people was praying outside at the hour of incense. Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And when Zecharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. And you will have joy and gladness and many will rejoice at his birth. For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb. And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, 'to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,' and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord." And Zacharias said to the angel, "How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years." And the angel answered and said to him, "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings. But behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time."

And the people waited for Zacharias, and marveled that he lingered so long in the temple. But when he came out, he could not speak to them; and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple, for he beckoned to them and remained speechless.

So it was, as soon as the days of his service were completed, that he departed to his own house. Now after those days his wife Elizabeth conceived; and she hid herself five months, saying, "Thus the Lord has dealt with me, in the days when He looked on me, to take away my reproach among people."

- Luke 1:5-25

In yesterday's reading, the lectionary took us to John chapter 5. Jesus was speaking to the temple leadership, who at that point in the Gospel were seeking to persecute Him. Jesus gave four different witnesses who testify to Him and to His identity and authority: God the Father, John the Baptist, the works that Jesus Himself performs in His ministry which are of the Father, and the Scriptures of the Old Testament through which Moses gave his testimony. The central question of authority is significant to Jesus' conflict with temple leadership -- Jesus says that His will is not His own, but rather He does the Father's will. He says, "I do not receive honor from men. But I know you, that you do not have the love of God in you. I have come in My Father's name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive. How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from only God?"

In today's reading, the lectionary takes us to the story of the parents of John the Baptist, Zacharias and Elizabeth. There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well advanced in years. As this is a reading from Luke's Gospel, there is once again the distinctive historical reference that corresponds to all the events he reports. My study bible notes that, "Zacharias and Elizabeth are a righteous couple of a priestly lineage, living always to fulfill God's will. But Elizabeth, like other well-known women of the Bible -- Sarah (Gen. 16:1), Rebekah (Gen. 25:21), Hannah (1 Sam 1:2) and others -- is barren, which was a public reproach (v. 25)." Elizabeth, we are told, is not only barren, but they are both well advanced in years - making it all the more unlikely they should conceive a child.

So it was, that while he was serving as priest before God in the order of his division, according to the custom of the priesthood, his lot fell to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. My study bible teaches that "each priest was assigned to a division (v. 8; see 1 Chr. 23:3-6; 28:13). There were 24 divisions in all, each serving a week at a time by rotation. The responsibilities of the priests in the division were decided by lot (v. 9)." As they are from a priestly lineage, it is a part of his heritage to fulfill this duty; it is a reinforcement of the devout character of this couple.

And the whole multitude of the people was praying outside at the hour of incense. Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And when Zecharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John." I quite like this fact we're given here in the story, that the "whole multitude of the people were praying outside" at this hour of incense, when Zacharias' duty is to burn the incense. It gives us a hushed scene of devout prayer, in which is set this great answer to prayer. A note reads, "Zacharias has prayed often for a son and now his prayer is answered. The angel (Gabriel, v. 19) promises a son who will be named John, meaning 'the grace of God.'" Incense is symbolic of prayer that rises to God and is pleasing: "May my prayer rise before you like incense" Psalm 141:2.

"And you will have joy and gladness and many will rejoice at his birth. For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb. And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, 'to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,' and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord." My study bible comments, "Note the description of the character and role of John the Baptist as an ascetic prophet who is to prepare the Jewish people for the coming of the Messiah. Elijah (v. 17), one of the greatest prophets of Israel, was expected to reappear from heaven in order to anoint the Messiah." We know that Jesus will teach that John is the return of the spirit of Elijah, who announces and heralds the Messiah. This prophecy (including the quotation) is from Malachi 4:5,6. John, of course, will preach repentance and divine justice in preparation for the Messiah. This devout couple will produce a son who is wholly dedicated to the Lord, and will live his life as the greatest among the prophets.

And Zacharias said to the angel, "How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years." A note reads, "Zacharias' question indicates a lack of complete faith in God's promise. Compare this with Abram's response when he was promised a son: 'he believed in the LORD' (Gen. 15:3-6)." What is the nature of faith? When we are confronted with a powerful revelation in Spirit, where do we find our truth?

And the angel answered and said to him, "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings. But behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time." A note in my study bible says that "losing his speech serves both as discipline for Zacharias' unbelief and as a sign of the truth of Gabriel's announcement." What is it to stand in the presence of the holy, even an angel such as Gabriel? The hallowed setting of the temple, and Zecharias' duties at the hour of incense, the people at prayer outside, all give us a setting for the holy -- Zecharias is standing in a holy place and has a visitation from this great angel of Annunciation. It is a place where faith connects our reality to the holiness of God. How do we receive it as we stand in that place?

And the people waited for Zacharias, and marveled that he lingered so long in the temple. But when he came out, he could not speak to them; and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple, for he beckoned to them and remained speechless. In the midst of the gathering of those at prayer, it's clear that something tremendous has happened. We witness, through Luke's Gospel, the power of the holy, and the effect of our response to it.

So it was, as soon as the days of his service were completed, that he departed to his own house. Now after those days his wife Elizabeth conceived; and she hid herself five months, saying, "Thus the Lord has dealt with me, in the days when He looked on me, to take away my reproach among people." Elizabeth is as devoted to God as is her husband. As does Mary, the mother of Jesus, she accepts wholeheartedly the gift of God. As Zecharias stepped into the community of the people, who then understood he had had a vision in the temple, so Elizabeth steps into community too, with grace. "Thus the Lord has dealt with me, in the days when He looked on me, to take away my reproach among people."

In some sense, our Christmas story begins here, with the story of Elizabeth and Zacharias. The conception of John the Baptist begins the dawn of the light that is to come. As Christmas approaches, we can think about the kind of preparation involved in this great event, the great light of Christ, who will call Himself the light of the world. This is a bridge between the old covenant and the new. John the Baptist, born of devout parents, whose birth is announced by Gabriel to his father as he takes his turn to burn the incense in the temple, is the last in a line of prophets, and the greatest among them. It is he who will announce the Messiah, and prepare the people for this shattering, world-changing event. Let us remember what it is to stand in the presence of the holy, to be made a promise, and how to receive a gift. Christ will be our gift of grace, for the whole world. How do we receive Him, the light that is to come? What careful preparation has gone into the planning of that gift of grace so that you may receive it? How do you accept it and prepare for the light of the Incarnation? Once again, we return to humble - even the most unlikely - circumstances out of which great holy things are born. We prepare with prayer and devotion. Yet - are we ready?