Zechariah his father, filled with the Holy Spirit, prophesied, saying:
“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.”
REFLECTION
"Zechariah his father, filled with the Holy Spirit, prophesied, saying:
“Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; for he has come to his people and set them free."
After Zachariah wrote the name of his newborn son, John. He was able to talk. The canticle by Zachariah is a prophecy about his son. The important point of Zachariah's message is that "for you (John) will go before the Lord to prepare his way, to give his people knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins.
The purpose of Advent is to "prepare" to meet our Redeemer, Jesus Christ. An estimated 4,000 years passed from Genesis to the birth of the Messiah before the promise to Abraham was fulfilled.
Today we are on the eve of celebrating Jesus' birthday, two thousand twenty-four years later. Christians remember that December 25th is a day to show our gratitude that our God's Son became incarnate of the Blessed Virgin Mary to live and die to save us from Adam and Eve's Original sin.
It was a week of great preparation when both my grandchildren were expecting the delivery of their children, my great-grandchildren, within a day apart. Luckily the mothers were in the same hospital. Everyone was there, parents, grandparents and a great-grandmother. We were praying and hoping that we would get to see these precious gifts from God. My granddaughter gave birth first. She delivered a beautiful little girl. Everyone was able to hold her within hours of her birth. I was amazed.
Two days later, I returned to see my grandson's newborn son. My great-grandson was just as beautiful. Both babies had the most perfectly formed hands and long delicate fingers. I was thinking how God is so detailed with creation.
St. Joseph and Mary prepared as best they could for the birth of Jesus. But God, the Father, thought of some important details. Below is a St. Alphonsus' 9th Day Novena and reflection about the birth of Jesus.
Let us reflect and pray 9th day of the Christmas Novena by St. Alphonsus Marie Liguori.
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