4th Sunday of Advent year ’B’
His father, Zechariah, was filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke this prophesy: ’Blessed be the Lord, the God of is areal who visited his people and set them free." Zacharia hadn’t understood about the angle’s visit at the time h was being a priest in the Temple of Jerusalem. He opened up his heart to Elizabeth listened to the Word of God. This is the sort of conversion of the heart we go through: Zacharias’ heart was converted to go from being incredulous to becoming credulous, this is at work for us also, so that God may take up all the place in our own hearts. The name of Zachariah’s son is ’God does grace’. This grace became visible, and took on a name, a face. It will be made manifest in its full dimension by Jesus in a short while. God gives Himself through his Son Jesus, his Eternal Son pointed out to by John. ’God so moved the world that he gave his only Beloved Son’ Jesus, announced by Zachariah, wanted to come to us. He wanted to love us and remain with us until the end of time. The perfect disinterested Love he gives us is the example of perfect love! Mercy is the true face of God. He bent down to us in order to love us even more. "He has established for us a saving power in the house of his servant David, just as he proclaimed, by the mouth of his prophets from ancient times, that he would save us from his enemies and from the hands of all who hate us, and show faithful love to our ancestors, and so keep in mind his holy covenant. This was the oath sworn to our father Abraham, that he would grants us, free from fear, to be delivered from the hands of our enemies, to serve him in holiness and up righteousness, in his presence, all our days." Zachariah’s incredulity caused him to become dumb. He was taught by Elisabeth. Zachariah Is now announcing the mystery that is unfolding before our very eyes. This is what the prophets had announced in former times, Lord Jesus, hurry, don’t wait any longer: may your Coming comfort and raise up those who have had faith in your Love. Little by little, there came about a transformation in his heart until John the Baptist was born. “As for you, little child, you shall be called the prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare a way for him, to give his people knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the faithful love of our God, In which the Rising Sun has come to visit us from on high, to give light to those in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace.” No longer is it the angel who comes t announce the good news. The one who now visits him is his little child Jesus’ precursor himself who opens up his eyes! Zachariah lets himself be converted, be transformed, he is filled with the Holy Spirit. We ask for the grace to be a witness of Jesus Our Saviour, to walk before him so as to prepare a path for him. So as to become a path for the one who is the Only path of Our God’s tender and merciful heart. He is here with us, present in our lives, h sets us free. ’God has manifested his mercy towards our fathers, he has reminded us of has holy Covenant, he had sworn to his father Abraham that he would pull us form the hands of the enemy.