Luke 1:57-66

Malachi 3:1-4, 23-24

Psalm 25:4-5ab, 8-9, 10 and 14

Luke 1:57-66

When the time arrived for Elizabeth to have her child

she gave birth to a son.

Her neighbors and relatives heard

that the Lord had shown his great mercy toward her,

and they rejoiced with her.

When they came on the eighth day to circumcise the child,

they were going to call him Zechariah after his father,

but his mother said in reply,

“No. He will be called John.”

But they answered her,

“There is no one among your relatives who has this name.”

So they made signs, asking his father what he wished him to be called.

He asked for a tablet and wrote, “John is his name,”

and all were amazed.

Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed,

and he spoke blessing God.

Then fear came upon all their neighbors,

and all these matters were discussed

throughout the hill country of Judea.

All who heard these things took them to heart, saying,

“What, then, will this child be?

For surely the hand of the Lord was with him.”

Opening Prayer: Almighty and ever-living God, as the Nativity of your Son according to the flesh draws near, I pray that your merciful love flow to me from your Word, who chose to become flesh of the Virgin Mary and establish his dwelling among us.

Encountering the Word of God

1. Parallel Births: We continue to read from the Infancy Narrative found in Luke. At the beginning of his Gospel, Luke intentionally drew out the many parallels he discerned between the births of John and Jesus. The angel Gabriel was sent to announce the conception of both children (Luke 1:19; 26). Both Zechariah and Mary were initially troubled by Gabriel’s appearance (Luke 1:12, 29). Gabriel counseled both Zechariah and Mary with the same words: “Do not be afraid!” (Luke 1:13, 30). Gabriel announced the miraculous character of both births (Luke 1:13, 31) and how both children are to be named (Luke 1:13, 31). Both children will be great (Luke 1:15, 32). Both Zechariah and Mary inquired how the births would come about (Luke 1:18, 34), with the difference that Zechariah did not believe the angel’s message and Mary did (Luke 1:20; 1:45). Both children were circumcised and named on the eighth day (Luke 1:58-66; 2:21). By narrating the two stories in parallel fashion, Luke encourages us to view the stories of John and Jesus together. “In the end, we will see that the two accounts are really part of the same story: the drama of God’s intervening in the lives of these two families to bring about his plan of salvation through the miraculously God-given children they will raise” (Sri, Dawn of the Messiah, 39).

2. The Symbolism of the Three Names: The three names, Elizabeth, Zechariah, and John, each have a deep meaning in the Gospel passage we read. Elizabeth’s name means “my God’s oath.” The two most important oaths that the Lord God swore in the Old Testament were the ones sworn to Abraham and David. In the first oath, the Lord God promised Abraham that all nations of the earth would be blessed in Abraham’s offspring (Genesis 22:16-18). In the second oath, the Lord promised David an everlasting kingdom and dynasty (Psalm 89:3). Zechariah’s name means “YHWH has remembered.” This doesn’t mean that God forgot his oath or promises and then one day suddenly remembered them. Rather, it emphasizes God’s fidelity to his covenant in contrast to the infidelity of the people, who forget God and their covenant (Genesis 8:1; Exodus 2:24; Psalm 106:45). Tomorrow, we will hear Zechariah sing in the Gospel that God remembers his holy covenant and the oath that he swore to Abraham, our father (Luke 1:73-74). God’s covenant oath to Abraham (Genesis 22:16-18) nears its fulfillment in the preparatory role played by John’s parents. Even their names symbolize that God remembers (Zechariah) his oath (Elizabeth) and will soon fulfill it through the mission of John and Jesus” (Ignatius Catholic Study Bible: New Testament, 108). The name “John” means “YHWH has shown favor” or “YHWH is gracious.” The blessing – promised to Abraham and unleashed by Jesus in and through the restored Kingdom of David – is the merciful grace and gift of the Holy Spirit. 

3. John as the Fulfillment of Malachi’s Prophecy: The First Reading is taken from the Book of Malachi. Malachi is considered the last to prophesy before the great silence that reigned for over four centuries until the appearance of John the Baptist in the wilderness. Malachi foretold that the Lord would send his messenger to prepare the way and that this messenger would be like “Elijah the prophet.” All four Gospels identify John the Baptist as the fulfillment of Malachi’s prophecy. The Gospel of John narrates how the priests and Levites asked John about his identity and asked him if he was Elijah (John 1:19-28). John denies that he is the physical reincarnation of Elijah but leaves open the question of whether or not he is the fulfillment of Malachi’s prophecy about Elijah. The Gospel of Mark combines Malachi’s prophecy about the messenger with Isaiah’s prophecy about the voice in the desert and then points to John as their fulfillment (Mark 1:3). Matthew highlights a conversation between Jesus and Jesus’ disciples after the Transfiguration and notes how John the Baptist fulfills Malachi’s prophecy about the return of Elijah (Matthew 17:13). Luke records the words of Gabriel that announced that John would go before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah (Luke 1:17).

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, King of all nations and keystone of the Church, come and save us, whom you formed from the dust of the earth and in whom you breathed your life-giving Spirit.

Living the Word of God: Have I listened to John’s cry and repented from my sin this advent season? Have I been reconciled with God or with family members?