Our site uses cookies to improve the user experience and we recommend accepting its use to take full advantage of the navigation

Master·evangeli.net

Today's Gospel + short theological explanation

Weekdays of Advent: December 24th
Download
Gospel text (Lk 1:67-79): 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. (…) 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.”

Zechariah’s “Benedictus”

EDITORIAL TEAM evangeli.net (based on texts by Benedict XVI) (Città del Vaticano, Vatican)

Today, to Zechariah —who had remained mute for not having believed the Archangel Gabriel— God, later on, forgives him and grants him the gift of prophecy in the "Benedictus”. Praised be our Lord, because He has visited us. In the language of the ancient world “adventus” was a technical term used to indicate the arrival of an official or the visit of the king or emperor to a province. However, it could also mean the coming of the divinity that emerges from concealment, thus forcefully manifesting His divine power.

Jesus is the King who entered this poor province called “Earth” to pay us the privilege of His visit. Through it He enlightens us: in the darkness of History that was still not yet redeemed, the lamps of hope were only gradually being lit until finally, Christ, the Light of the World, came. Jesus Christ is the "mystery of salvation".

—The Savior people were waiting for is greeted as the "Rising Star", the star that shows the way and guides me —now without any fears— towards the Salvation promised by God and achieved in Jesus Christ.