The Canticle of Zechariah

December 24, 2018 

Readings:

First Reading: 2 Samuel 7: 1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16

Psalm: 80

Second Reading:

Gospel reading according to Luke 1: 67-79

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Homily:

Because of his unbelief in the message of the archangel Gabriel about having a son in his family, whom he will call John, which means “God is gracious,” he became mute.  For nine months, he became silent, yet he realized the goodness of the Lord and true to His promise, for so long a time his prayer was answered, in God’s time.  When the time came for Elizabeth, his wife, delivered their first born son, his mouth was opened and the first words he uttered was praising of God’s goodness, mercy, love and compassion.  He also was filled with the Holy Spirit, so he made prophesy to his new born son.  “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’.” (Lk. 1: 67-68).  He first blessed and glorified God for the wonders He had made to him and to His people.  He thanked God for sending His begotten Son and to come to his people, to us, to show his love towards us, His people, and to set us free from bondage of sin.

Since Mary was with them in his house helping his wife, Zechariah learned what God made to Mary, she became the mother of His Son, so then he realized that God the Father raised a mighty Savior from the house of David, through Joseph.  “’He has raised up for us a mighty Savior; born of the house of his servant David’.” (Lk. 1:69).  The mighty Savior is in their midst but not yet.  He is still in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary, but his presence can be felt by all.

Zechariah, as a priest, remembered the teachings of old, of the golden times when God through his prophets promised that this mighty Savior will save them from their enemies, and from the hands of their conquerors.  “’Through his prophets he promised of old that he would save us from our enemies, from the hands of all who hate us’.” (Lk. 1: 70-71).  The promise of old is now fulfilled in their present time.

He also remembered the promise made by God to his people of old, to their ancestors due to His mercy, and His covenant made to Abraham, Moses, Jacob, Israel and to all the prophets, great and small. “’He promised to show mercy to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant’.” (Lk. 1: 72).  God never forgets His promise to His people, from ancient times up to the present time.  His covenant with the people He fulfilled according to his time and pace.   “’This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham; to set us free from the hand of enemies, free to worship him without fear, holy and righteous in his sight all the days of our life’.” (Lk. 1:73-75).  His promised “to set us free from the hand of enemies, free to worship him without fear, holy and righteous in his sight all the days of our life,” God fulfilled.  How about us, do we fulfill our promise we made to our God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ?

Then, Zechariah turned to his new born son, John.  He made prophesy through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.  “’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  the forgiveness of their sins’.” (Lk. 1: 76-77). His son, according to his prophesy would become the forerunner of the mighty Savior, the Most High; his son will go first to prepare the way of the Lord when he comes, especially straightening the lives of the people to know/learn, accept, and follow the Messiah/Christ who will save them and forgive 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 shadow of death and to guide our feet into the way of peace’.”   (Lk. 1: 78-79).  This prophesy of Zechariah will happen when the dawn, “bukang liwayway sa madaling araw,” from the horizon shines to give us light and life, Jesus himself, and to bring us living in darkness, in the valley of tears, and the shadow of death, into an everlasting and eternal life with Him, to God our Father.