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Gospel: Luke 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.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
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Nothing is impossible for God.
Zechariah learned this lesson firsthand.
He and his wife, Elizabeth, prayed their whole lives for a child and finally at the very end of their days, Elizabeth gives birth a son, John the Baptist.
As we know, John changes the course of human history. He identifies Jesus as the long-awaited Savior, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.
Tonight we will not only celebrate Christ’s birth, but also his promise to return at the end of time.
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May the Lord find us watchful in prayer, ready for his return.
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