Luke’s infancy narrative would make a wonderful opera. One song leads to another, beginning with Elizabeth’s joyful greeting to Mary, then Mary’s Magnificat, followed by Zechariah’s song at John’s birth, climaxing with the angels’ hymn at Christ’s birth, and gently closing with old Simeon’s canticle in the temple.
Today we focus on the event that motivated Zechariah’s great song of praise: the birth of John the Baptist. To appreciate this story we must remember the events leading up to what we hear in the Gospel. The archangel Gabriel had appeared to the priest Zechariah as he was offering incense in the temple, telling him that he and his long-barren wife, Elizabeth, would finally have their prayers answered with a son who would do great things for God. Quite taken aback, Zechariah asked how he could know this to be true. Wrong question! For doubting, he was made mute.
Just as Elizabeth gave birth to a son, Zechariah gave birth to a song, one of the most beautiful in scripture, recognizing “the Lord, the God of Israel who has visited and brought redemption to his people,” and hailing his infant child as one who would be called “the prophet of the Most High, going before the Lord to prepare his way” (see Luke 1:68–79). John, of course, would go into the desert to sing his own song: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.” And, in the fullness of time, Jesus, God’s love song to the world, came, and the singing still goes on.
Consider/Discuss
- What song has God given you to sing? (And don’t say, “I can’t sing!”)
- What song does our parish sing to God? Our country? Our world?
Responding to the Word
God of all creation, from the beginning creation sang as you brought the world from chaos into light. Throughout the story of Israel, men and women raised their voices praising your holy name. In Jesus you sang your song of love to us. May our voices join with all the angels and saints in joyful praise.