The light has dawned

2 Sam. 7:1-5.8-12.14.16, Lk. 1:67-79. 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. The background to Zechariah’s song in today's Gospel is the Biblical belief that God’s promises are fulfilled. When at first, Zechariah did not believe, he is rendered mute until the day the promised event occurs. Eight days after the birth of John, Zechariah and Elizabeth took him to be circumcised, following the ritual commanded to Abraham (Gen. 17:12). When the time comes to name the child, Elizabeth insists that he be given the name John, as God had the instructed. His friends turned to Zechariah, who confirmed the name and immediately he regained his speech and 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 see light on the horizon and wait in hope for it to become the full, dazzling light of God’s incarnation in Jesus Christ. We live between 'the already and the not-yet'. A light has dawned but has not yet reached the darkness in and 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. However, with Zechariah, we can also look up at the dawn, as the first shimmering of the radiance that God has in store for His people.

May the Lord grant us His mercy and encourage us to do the will of God as we celebrate Christmas! Amen!! Good morning and have a blessed day!!!