Luke 1:67-79 Reflection ~
We may not be as holy or eloquent as John the Baptist’s father, Zechariah, with his gratefulness and prophecy. Nevertheless, we can still express how wonderful God is to us. We learn about the Holy Spirit in scripture before Jesus’s appearance in the upper room through the prophets like Zechariah and other holy and righteous people throughout the Old Testament. The Holy Spirit, our Advocate, prompts and gives voice to our personally directed prophecies. Let the love, guidance, and fruitfulness of the Holy Spirit ring out in your entire being and, with your actions, fully live your own canticle.
Portrait of Zacharias and Elizabeth by James Tissot.
The full-resolution painting and more detail are available on the Brooklyn Museum website.
Additional Advent Reflections
Luke 1:67-79 – Scripture*
Zechariah’s Prophecy
67 Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke this prophecy:
68 “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
for he has looked favorably on his people and redeemed them.
69 He has raised up a mighty savior for us
in the house of his servant David,
70 as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,
71 that we would be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us.
72 Thus he has shown the mercy promised to our ancestors,
and has remembered his holy covenant,
73 the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham,
to grant us 74 that we, being rescued from the hands of our enemies,
might serve him without fear, 75 in holiness and righteousness
before him all our days.
76 And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people
by the forgiveness of their sins.
78 By the tender mercy of our God,
the dawn from on high will break upon us,
79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
80 The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day he appeared publicly to Israel.
Additional Thoughts
Thank you for meditating on this Gospel and reading this Lectio Divina on Luke 1:67-79 Reflection – The Holy Spirit, Our Advocate
Would you like to contribute related thoughts to these Lectio reflections on the Gospel readings? Since Lectio is not the only contemplative prayer style, others might appreciate these types of expressions in this ministry. Do you see God’s grandeur everywhere and unconditionally enjoy sharing the love of Christ that you have inside? Are you willing to be anonymous in what you would share? If so, email me.
Prayer for young families:
Lord, let the young families of our communities get to know your joy, peace, comfort, and love despite worldly distractions.
Attributions
*This site has permission to use the New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE) Bible Luke 1 passage.
The Immersive Prayer website follows the guidelines for image web use at the Brooklyn Museum and the Jewish Museum websites.