The Gospel for Friday of the third week of Advent is taken from Luke 1, 25th verse. In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the priestly division of Abijah. His wife was from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. Both were righteous in the eyes of God, observing all the commandments and ordinances of the law blamelessly. But they had no child because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years. Once, when he was serving as priest in his divisions turned before God according to the practice of the priestly service, he was chosen by Lot to enter the sanctuary of the Lord to burn incense.

Then, when the whole assembly of the people was praying outside at the hour of the incense offering, the angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right of the altar of incense. Zechariah was troubled by what he saw, and fear came upon him. But the angel said to him, do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear a son, and you shall name him John, and you will have joy and gladness. And many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He will drink neither wine nor strong drink.

He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of fathers toward children, and the disobedient, to the understanding of the righteous, to prepare a people fit for the Lord. Then Zacharias said to the angel, how shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years. And the angel said to him in reply, I am Gabriel, who stand before God.

I was sent to speak to you and to announce to you this good news. But now you will be speechless and unable to talk until the days these things take place, because you did not believe in my words, which will be fulfilled at their proper time. Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and were amazed that he stayed so long in the sanctuary. But when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He was gesturing to them, but remained mute. Then, when his days of ministry were completed, he went home.

After this time his wife Elizabeth conceived, and she went into seclusion for five months, saying, so has the Lord done to me at a time when he has seen fit to take away my disgrace before others. We have another story about someone being invited by God to participate in the evolution of the salvation of humanity. Individuals called into this role. And it’s fascinating that there are a number of them. Abraham for one, Mary, and now Elizabeth. Where there is a miraculous birth, not just an ordinary birth, but something is given at a moment that is going to have to take time to germinate, to grow and to find fullness.

The beautiful image of the way God works with you and with me an insight comes a new way of seeing something. And all of a sudden it changes everything slowly and evolves until it gives birth to virtue, to a new life. God is always interested in new birth. That’s what this season of Christmas is leading us to. The most important image that we could have of God’s will to become one of us. After your reflection, I will close with a prayer.

Sa. Foreign. Closing prayer. Father, you continually to reveal the natural way in which you invite us to be engaged with you in this work of salvation history. Open us to all the images in scripture, all the ways in which we have experienced our own personal life. And let us pay attention to these moments of new birth, of being infused with a new insight and the delight of watching your grace bring it to fullness.

And we ask this in Jesus name, amen.