Our parishioner Cathy Hayden wrote a reflection for December 24. I had also written one on the Canticle of Zechariah for that day before she volunteered to do so. They both give different perspectives. So here is my reflection below:
Every morning, many of the Catholic faithful pray the Canticle of Zechariah in morning prayer of the liturgy of the hours. Here are the words of Zechariah that we hear on the day that we celebrate Christmas Eve:
"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.”
Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, was not allowed to speak by God for many months, since he did not believe the message that was told to him about the upcoming birth of his son. When Zechariah finally accepts the will of God in his life and in the life of his son, he is able to speak. The first words that Zechariah speaks is a blessing of the name of the Lord. Zechariah praises God and thanks him for coming to his people and setting them free by raising up a Mighty Savior, who will be our Lord Jesus Christ. Zechariah, through his canticle of praise, prophesies that Jesus will be the one who will lead humanity to salvation. He will be the one who will free humanity from sin. He will be the one who will be a light shinning in the darkness. He will be the one who will guide humanity to peace. Taking the message of the Canticle of Zechariah into the context of commemoration of the holy season of Advent, Jesus should be the center of our Advent preparations, the center of our celebration of Christmas. Of course, we say. But with all the mixed messages we hear in our world today, with the secular meaning of this season bombarding each from many corners, that is easier said than done. In the second part of his song of praise to God, Zechariah looks at his own son, John the Baptist, and prophesies that John will prepare the way of the Lord and prepare people for the coming.
In the midst of our busy preparations for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, let us use Zechariah as an example as we praise and glorify God. Let us also see John the Baptist as an example of faith for us today, as we are called prepare our hearts and the hearts of our family members and friends to receive Jesus. Let us not forget to make Jesus the center and focus of our celebrations today and throughout the Christmas season.
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