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.”
Monday we heard Mary’s Magnificat and today we hear the Canticle of Zechariah, a prophecy. Also called the Benedictus. It gives praise to God, announces the coming of the Messiah, describes John’s role in the coming of the Messiah and draws a picture of God’s salvation as the dawn from on high, illuminating darkness and providing a guide onto a way of peace.
This often-quoted text, since it is part of our Morning Prayer, can be prayed and recited, forgetting to unpack all Zechariah was expressing through the Holy Spirit who came upon him.
Zechariah announcing the promises of the Old Testament for a messiah is also here and now. That this Messiah will be a light that shines through all darkness and death so no matter where we are, he will reach us.
And he foretells there will be a way for us to peace, that only comes with that light of Christ.
On this eve of the Nativity of Jesus we ponder Zechariah’s hymn of praise and prophecy and must realize it is a proclamation for you and me today.
In this year 2025, we too can rejoice that God is coming to enlighten our world. He is shining a light for us to see the good news and the truth that we can live by. To find our way to the peace, and not just peace, but joy and love that is being offered to us by the one who redeems us.
Whatever we are doing today. However, the struggles may pull on us to dismiss tomorrow as just a holiday we must push the noise of the world aside and for once, if not forever, proclaim for ourselves that joy must be ours too.
For the joy of Christmas is how we are suppose to live and love everyday. Greetings of Merry Christmas and good wishes for others, for even strangers we meet must continue when our hearts are full of the love of God and the Holy Spirit resides in us.
Blessings, greetings, and well wishing to everyone should spring from the heart that knows the love of God that brought forth Jesus being born for you and me. Let us have a wonderful Christmas this year and then remember those symbols of joy and love that are part of the season… the lights we hang and ornaments we arrange for tomorrow can be everyday. The warmth we feel for all can be ours everyday. If we want it.
Ask Jesus to stay with us and continue to light our way through the rest of our life. Shine forth wherever we find ourselves. Always remembering the love Jesus brought to the world when he was born as one of us so he could be with us. Merry Christmas!!
Deacon Tony Pynes 
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