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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…” Luke 1:67–68
Our story of the birth of Saint John the Baptist concludes today
with the song of praise spoken by Zechariah after his tongue had
been loosened on account of his transformation in faith. He had
moved from doubting what the Archangel Gabriel had spoken to him to
believing and following the command of the Archangel to name his
firstborn son “John.” As we saw in yesterday’s reflection,
Zechariah is a model and example for those who have lacked faith,
have suffered the consequences of their lack of faith, and have
changed as a result.
Today, we see an even fuller illustration of what happens when we
change. No matter how deeply we have doubted in the past, no matter
how far we have turned from God, when we turn back to Him with all
our heart, we can hope to experience the same thing experienced by
Zechariah. First, we see that Zechariah is “filled with the Holy
Spirit.” And as a result of this gift of the Holy Spirit, Zechariah
“prophesied.” These two revelations are very significant.
As we prepare for the celebration of the Birth of Christ tomorrow
on Christmas Day, we are also called to be “filled with the Holy
Spirit” so that we also can act as a prophetic messenger of the
Lord. Though Christmas is all about the Second Person of the Most
Holy Trinity, Christ Jesus our Lord, the Holy Spirit (the Third
Person of the Holy Trinity) plays just as much of a significant
role in the glorious event, both at that time and also today.
Recall that it was by the Holy Spirit Who overshadowed Mother Mary
that she conceived the Christ Child. In today’s Gospel, it was the
Holy Spirit Who enabled Zechariah to proclaim the greatness of
God’s act of sending John the Baptist ahead of Jesus to prepare the
way for Him. Today, it must be the Holy Spirit Who fills our lives
so as to enable us to proclaim the Christmas Truth.
In our day and age, Christmas has become very secular in many parts
of the world. Few people take time on Christmas to truly pray and
worship God for all that He has done. Few people continually
proclaim that glorious message of the Incarnation to family and
friends during this most solemn celebration. How about you? Are you
able to be a true “prophet” of the Most High God this Christmas?
Has the Holy Spirit overshadowed you and filled you with the grace
needed to point others to this glorious reason for our
celebration?
Reflect, today, upon the role of the Holy Spirit in your life this
day. Invite the Holy Spirit to fill you, inspire you, and
strengthen you, and to give to you the wisdom you need to be a
mouthpiece of the glorious gift of the birth of the Savior of the
World this Christmas. No other gift could be more important to give
to others than this message of truth and love.
Holy Spirit, I give You my life and invite You to come to me, to
overshadow me and to fill me with Your divine presence. As You fill
me, give me the wisdom I need to speak of Your greatness and to be
an instrument through which others are drawn into the glorious
celebration of the birth of the Savior of the World. Come, Holy
Spirit, fill me, consume me and use me for Your glory. Jesus,
I trust in You.
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