Luke 1:67-79 NRSVue

⁶⁷Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:

⁶⁸“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has looked favorably on his people and redeemed them. ⁶⁹He has raised up a mighty savior for us in the house of his child David, ⁷⁰as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, ⁷¹that we would be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us. ⁷²Thus he has shown the mercy promised to our ancestors and has remembered his holy covenant, ⁷³the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham, to grant us ⁷⁴that we, being rescued from the hands of our enemies, might serve him without fear, ⁷⁵in holiness and righteousness in his presence all our days. ⁷⁶And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, ⁷⁷to give his people knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins. ⁷⁸Because of the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, ⁷⁹to shine upon those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

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Some thoughts on this scripture

Reflection
The prayer of Zechariah is a morning prayer of thousands every day. I read it slowly, letting the words reveal their meaning for me today.

Reflection
Zechariah is profoundly aware of his heritage, seeing Gods action in the past as having promise for the future. I draw encouragement from my own story, allowing God to bless me with hope and confidence in continuing blessing.

Reflection
The Benedictus is a prayer of prophecy about the coming of the Saviour. This "Most High" that Zechariah mentions comes not in a cloud of glory, but as a vulnerable child, with an ordinary family, in a cold stable. That is the kind of God we have.

Reflection
This babe in a manger brings light to those in darkness and takes away all my sins, doing away with the power of evil. What do I say to him, who loves me beyond all love?

Reflection
Am I ready this Christmas to invite Jesus into my heart and my home, giving all that I have over to him?

Reflection
The /Benedictus/ is a prayer of prophecy about the coming of the Saviour. This "Most High" that Zechariah mentions comes not in a cloud of glory, but as a vulnerable child, with an ordinary family, in a cold stable. That is the kind of God we have. This babe in a manger brings light to those in darkness and takes away all my sins, doing away with the power of evil. What do I say to him, who loves me beyond all love?