＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

Judges 13:2-7, 24-25a*

There was a man of Zorah of the tribe of Dan called .

Manoah. His wife could not bear children. The angel of Yahweh appeared to this woman and said to her, “You have not borne children and have not given birth, but see, you are to conceive and give birth to a son.

Because of this, take care not to take wine or any alcoholic drink, nor to eat unclean foods from now on, for you shall bear a son who shall be a Zazirite of Yahweh from the womb of his mother. Never shall his hair be cut for he is consecrated to Yahweh. He shall begin the liberation of the Israelites from the Philistine oppression.(….)

 

Ps 71:3-4a, 5-6ab, 16-17

My mouth shall be filled with your praise, and will sing your glory!

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊

Luke 1:5-25*

In the days of Herod, king of Ju­dea, there lived a priest named Zecha­riah, belonging to the priestly clan of Abiah. Elizabeth, Zechariah’s wife, also belonged to a priestly family. Both of them were upright in the eyes of God and lived blamelessly(….) But they had no child.(….)

Now, while Zechariah and those with him were fulfilling their office, it fell to him by lot, according to the custom of the priests, to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense. (…..) On seeing the angel, Zechariah was deeply troubled and fear took hold of him.

 But the angel said to him, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah, be assured that your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son and you shall name him John. (….)

 This son of yours will be great in the eyes of the Lord. Listen: he shall never drink wine or strong drink, but he will be filled with holy spirit even from his mother’s womb. Through him many of the people of Israel will turn to the Lord their God.

He himself will open the way to the Lord with the spirit and power of the prophet Elijah; he will reconcile fathers and children, and lead the disobedient to wisdom and righteousness, in order to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

 Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I believe this? I am an old man and my wife is elderly, too.” The angel replied, “I am Gabriel, who stands before God, and I am the one sent to speak to you and bring you this good news! My words will come true in their time. But you would not believe and now you will be silent and unable to speak until this has happened.” (…..)

 When his time of service was completed, Zechariah returned home and some time later Elizabeth became pregnant. For five months she kept to herself, remaining at home, and thinking, “This, for me, is the Lord’s doing! This is his time for mercy, and for taking away my public disgrace.”

 “What is the Lord doing for me!

 

Gospel Reflection：

God’s plan of salvation goes a long way. Long before Jesus would be born God would be sending time and again signs of his coming. Samson in the Old Testament, the Nazirite, chosen and dedicated he was even born would be the “Champion” of Israel who whould defeat the powerful and dreaded Philistines.

David would also defeat Goliath, the Philistine Champion. Samson and David are types of the true “Champion” – the Lord-Adonai, the Emmanuel!

John the Baptist is like Samson of the Old Testament. Called and dedicated from the womb would precede the coming of the true “Champion of Israel”- Jesus, the Nazarene, born in the city of David, Bethlehem, will become the king of Israel and so thus fulfill the promise of God to Jacob and Jesse.

We are all called and dedicated by virtue of our Baptism. Through Baptism we have been grafted to the root (or stump) of Jesse!