Reflection for December 24 Saturday of the Fourth Week of Advent: Luke 1:67-79

Gospel: Luke 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.  

He promised to show mercy to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant. This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham: to set us free from the hand of our enemies, free to worship him without fear, holy and righteous in his sight all the days of our life. 

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.”

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Reflection:

Do we acknowledge the many blessings that God has given us? For example: The new life that God gives us every morning, the family that we have, the good health that we have and there are many more blessings that God has been showering us. Do we always remember to thank God for all these blessings?  Or we are already used to these blessing that it becomes ordinary for us already.  

The devil would always lure us to get busy with worldly things so that we would eventually forget God. So what are the results? We will not anymore love God, we will lose our guilt of conscience. We will therefore mindlessly commit sin such as abortion, adultery and many more sins against our fellowmen and God. 

Zechariah was well aware of the many blessings that God had showered him and his family that’s why he praised Him. In good times and in bad he never walked away from God he remained faithful to God. We must also be fully aware of the many blessings that God has been showering us. And we must always be grateful for all of these blessings by sharing it with those who are in need most especially the poor. – Marino J. Dasmarinas