Gospel: December 19, 2024
December 19, 2024 (Thursday)
3rd Week of Advent
Psalter: Week 3 / (Violet)
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 71: 3-4a, 5-6ab, 16-17
My mouth shall be filled with your praise, and I will sing your glory!
1st Reading: Judges 13: 2-7, 24-25a
Gospel: Luke 1: 5-25
In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there lived a priest named Zechariah, belonging to the priestly clan of Abiah. Elizabeth, Zechariah’s wife, also belonged to a priestly family. Both of them were upright in the eyes of God, and lived blamelessly, in accordance with all the laws and commands of the Lord, but they had no child. Elizabeth could not have any and now they were both very old.
Now, while Zechariah and those with him were fulfilling their office, it fell to him by lot, according to the custom of the priests, to enter the Sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense. At the time of offering incense, all the people were praying outside; it was then, that an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. On seeing the angel, Zechariah was deeply troubled and fear took hold of him. But the angel said to him, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah, be assured that your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son and you shall name him John. He will bring joy and gladness to you, and many will rejoice at his birth. This son of yours will be great in the eyes of the Lord.
Listen: he shall never drink wine or strong drink; but he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb. Through him, many of the people of Israel will turn to the Lord their God. He, himself, will open the way to the Lord, with the spirit and power of the prophet Elijah; he will reconcile fathers and children; and lead the disobedient to wisdom and righteousness, in order to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I believe this? I am an old man and my wife is elderly, too.” The angel replied, “I am Gabriel, who stands before God; and I am the one sent to speak to you, and to bring you this good news! My words will come true in their time. But you would not believe; and now, you will be silent and unable to speak until this has happened.”
Meanwhile, the people waited for Zechariah; and they were surprised that he delayed so long in the Sanctuary. When he finally appeared, he could not speak to them; and they realized that he had seen a vision in the Sanctuary. He remained dumb and made signs to them. When his time of service was completed, Zechariah returned home; and, some time later, Elizabeth became pregnant. For five months she kept to herself, remaining at home, and thinking, “This, for me, is the Lord’s doing! This is his time for mercy, and for taking away my public disgrace.”
Reflection:
“Restoring broken relationships”
We have already begun reflecting on the figure of John the Baptist and on the role he would be playing as regards people’s reconciliation. Certainly, John the Baptist is a character we would not want to miss during the Advent season. John’s message calls us to put right whatever has gone wrong in our network of relationships.
The Gospel passage for today narrates the announcement of John’s birth. Zechariah was told by angel Gabriel that his wife Elizabeth, who was barren, would bear a son and on whom the name John would be given. The angel Gabriel explained to Zechariah that the child to be born would go before the Lord in the spirit and power of the prophet Elijah.
We may remember that Prophet Elijah was a mighty prophet in the Old Testament (cf. 1 Kgs 17–2 Kgs 2) who was expected to return before the day of the Lord (cf. Mal. 3:1). The announcement of John’s birth is a challenge for us to reconcile with anyone we have to be reconciled. Restoration of broken relationships is always a possibility. Let us receive the Good News, announcing that broken relationships can be restored.
