Meanwhile the people were waiting for Zechariah and were amazed that he stayed so long in the sanctuary. 22 But when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He was gesturing to them but remained mute. 23 Then, when his days of ministry were completed, he went home. 24 After this time his wife Elizabeth conceived, and she went into seclusion for five months, saying, 25“So has the Lord done for me at a time when he has seen fit to take away my disgrace before others.”
57 When the time arrived for Elizabeth to have her child she gave birth to a son. 58 Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy toward her, and they rejoiced with her. 59 When they came on the eighth day to circumcise the child, they were going to call him Zechariah after his father, 60 but his mother said in reply, “No. He will be called John.” 61 But they answered her, “There is no one among your relatives who has this name.” 62 So they made signs, asking his father what he wished him to be called. 63 He asked for a tablet and wrote, “John is his name,” and all were amazed. 64 Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed, and he spoke blessing God. 65 Then fear came upon all their neighbors, and all these matters were discussed throughout the hill country of Judea. 66 All who heard these things took them to heart, saying, “What, then, will this child be?” For surely the hand of the Lord was with him.
God chose the Temple to announce the birth of the herald for the Messiah. Zechariah was chosen by lot to perform the prestigious liturgical duty of burning incense in the sanctuary. The sanctuary was a holy place and contained the golden altar for incense (Ex. 30:1-10), the table for the showbread (Ex. 25:23-30), and the lampstand (menorah – Ex.25:31-40). The people were expecting him to come out and impart the Aaronic Blessing upon them, “The Lord bless you and keep you! The Lord let his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you! The Lord look upon you kindly and give you peace! (Num. 6:24-26).” The congregation was amazed that he stayed so long in the sanctuary and then emerged as a deaf-mute gesturing to them. They realized that something extraordinary had happened to him. He returned home after his ministry was completed. Elizabeth conceived, secluded herself for five months, and gave praise to God for removing her disgrace in the eyes of the community due to her previous inability to conceive (Gen. 30:23).
God fulfilled his promise to Zechariah and Elizabeth, and she gave birth to a son. The news of the miracle spread through the community and her relatives and neighbors rejoiced with her. Circumcision on the eighth day was required by God’s covenant with Abraham (Gen. 17:12; Lev. 12:3) and it incorporated the infant into the covenant community, God’s chosen people, the body of Israel, just as Baptism incorporates Christians into the Body of Christ. The family and community gathered to celebrate the occasion and expected the child to be named Zechariah after his father, but Elizabeth, contrary to tradition, said that he should be named John. The family gestured to Zechariah, who was deaf (vv. 62-63) and could not hear Elizabeth’s response, to ask him what the child should be named. He wrote on a tablet that the baby should be named John. Immediately, Zechariah could speak, and his first words were to praise and bless God. The community was struck with awe and wonder. News of the extraordinary events spread throughout the region, and the community pondered what role the child would play in God’s divine plan.
Almighty and all-powerful God, look with mercy upon your children and open our eyes to the magnificent works you perform in our lives. May our understanding of your divine plan for us come into focus, and by your grace may we be brought to everlasting life. This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen!
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References
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
Orchard, Bernard, et al. A Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture. Feb. 1953.
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