The Lord is Gracious

Judges 13:2-7.24-25, Lk. 1:5-25. There are many interesting parallels in the Bible stories about God granting the gift of children to those who longed for them. After years of waiting, Abraham and Sarah were blessed with Isaac, Manoah and his wife were blessed with Samson as recorded in today's first reading and in today’s Gospel, Zechariah and Elizabeth were blessed with the great forerunner, John the Baptist. The annunciation stories of Zechariah and Mary is another parallel yet distinctive accounts. Each is startled at the angel’s appearance. Gabriel instructs each not to be afraid. Each is promised a child and given a hint of his or her child’s future greatness. After the message to Zechariah that he and Elizabeth would have a son, the mute priest, returns to his home.

Elizabeth has more faith and rejoices in her pregnancy, while staying secluded for the first five months. Then, in the sixth month of her pregnancy, the fuller meaning of what God is doing is made clear to her. Her young relative, Mary of Nazareth comes to her to be with her for a time and share the news of her own blessed pregnancy and to lift up joyful praise to God, who is coming to visit his people with saving grace. Perhaps, there is something about Zechariah in us. We sometimes find it hard to believe good news because we are so used to hearing bad news. What we celebrate with Elizabeth is that the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, has become God-with-us, Emmanuel, in Mary’s Son, Jesus. God is with us in Christ and Christ is beside, behind, before, above and around us.

May the Lord heal the broken bonds of our life, help us to be heralds of hope like His servants, Samson and John the Baptist and may we hear His voice through the situations in which we work today! Amen!! Good morning and have a wonderful day!!!