Reflection for Saturday, 4th week of Advent 

By

Fr. Aloysius Santiago sdb
Director, Social Action Movement, Don Bosco Bidar  

Today's WORD of GOD 

Luke 1: 67 - 79 

His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied: 

“Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, 

because he has come to his people and redeemed them. 

He has raised up a horn[a] of salvation for us

in the house of his servant David 

(as he said through his holy prophets of long ago), 

salvation from our enemies 

and from the hand of all who hate us— 

to show mercy to our ancestors

and to remember his holy covenant, the oath he swore to our father Abraham: 

to rescue us from the hand of our enemies, 

and to enable us to serve him without fear 

in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. 


And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; 

for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, 

to give his people the knowledge of salvation 

through the forgiveness of their sins, 

because of the tender mercy of our God, 

by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven 

to shine on those living in *darkness

and in the shadow of death,

to guide our feet into the path of peace.” 



Meditation on the Word of God 

After being made Speechless for Doubting GOD'S Word, the Father of John the Baptist suddenly Regains His Voice, to Loudly Proclaim the Fulfillment of GOD'S Promises to Israel. His is a Song of Advent, as We Wait for the Light that has Already Come & is still Yet to Come. 

Before GOD'S Messenger (Gabriel) Appeared to Mary, He Came to Zechariah with a Startling Promise like that 1st made to Abraham Centuries before. Elizabeth & Zechariah’s Advanced Age is a Clear Parallel with Sarah & Abraham, when They too Conceived Their Long Hoped-For son, Isaac. Zechariah belongs to a Priestly Rank in Israel & Elizabeth too is a Descendent of Aaron’s Priestly Family. Thus the Son They will Raise is Destined to Lead People Towards GOD. Then too, Gabriel Promises that John will be Filled with the Spirit & Power of Elijah, a Great Prophet who Turned His People to Repentance (Malachi 4: 5 - 6). 

King David Wanted to Build a house for GOD to Dwell Among HIS People. Instead GOD Built a house to Dwell in – the house of David which will be the Sign of GOD'S Living Presence. 

The Ultimate Fulfillment will be in the New Temple which JESUS will Build Up: We who are the Temple, the Living Stones of the Temple of the Presence of GOD among HIS People. The Climax of the Benedictus, 

“By the Tender Mercy of Our GOD, the Dawn from on High will Break Upon Us, to Give Light to Those who Sit in Darkness & in the Shadow of Death, to Guide Our Feet into the Way of Peace.”

The Background to Zechariah’s Song is the Biblical Belief that GOD'S Promises are fulfilled. When at 1st Zechariah Doesn’t Believe, He is Rendered Mute until the Day the Promised Event Occurs. When the Time Comes to Name the Child, Elizabeth Insists that He be Given the Name John, as GOD had Prescribed. His Friends Turned to Zechariah, who Confirmed the Name — & Immediately He Regained His Speech & Began Praising GOD, Whose Promises are Always Fulfilled.

Zechariah’s Song can Become Our Own, this Christmas Eve, as We Pray for a More Personal Awareness of GOD in Our Lives. 

We Live between the Already & the Not-Yet. A Light has Dawned but hasn’t yet Reached the Darkness In & Around Us. As Disciples of CHRIST We Live in a Kind of Advent-Waiting, Knowing that the Divine Light has Come to Our World, yet still Awaiting for It to Shine in Fullest Measure. 

We may even Doubt that such a Glorious Future is Possible. But with Zechariah, We can also Look Up at the Dawn, as the 1st Shimmering of the Radiance that GOD has in Store for HIS People.

Good Morning

Have a lovely day

God blessings be with you today