Saturday of the Third Week of Advent – December 19
Sent on God's Mission
Liturgical Cycle: B | Lectionary Cycle: I
Introduction
People chosen by God for a special mission in his plan of salvation are constantly presented in the Bible as chosen and loved before birth, with their birth announced in a special way; they are moved by the Spirit of God; their mission demands sacrifices. Witness the call of Samson in his folkloric saga, or that of John the Baptist. The silence of Zechariah probably comes from the joy of an overwhelming message, too great to be put into words.
Underlying these vocation stories is the conviction that people are weak, that salvation is gratuitously given by God, that barrenness gives way to fertility, that sacrifices are demanded. And so, people are to be moved by the Spirit of God. All this holds true also for us as we are called to prepare the way of the Lord.
Opening Prayer
Lord, mighty God,
no angel announced our birth,
but we know that you loved us
even before we were born,
and that you call us to prepare
the fuller coming of your Son among people.
Reveal your strength in our weakness,
keep us hoping in your future,
that we may overcome all obstacles
to establish the kingdom
of Jesus Christ our Lord.
First Reading
There was a man of Zorah of the tribe of Dan called Manoah. His wife could not bear children.
The angel of the Lord 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 Nazirite of the Lord from the womb of his mother. Never shall his hair be cut, for he is consecrated to the Lord. He shall begin the liberation of the Israelites from the Philistine oppression.”
The woman told her husband:
“A messenger of God who bore the majesty of an angel spoke to me. I did not ask him where he came from, nor did he tell me his name.
But he told me: ‘You are to conceive and give birth to a son. Henceforth, you shall not drink wine or fermented drinks, nor eat anything unclean, for your son shall be a Nazirite of God from the womb of his mother until the day of his death.’”
The woman gave birth to a son and named him Samson. The boy grew, and the Lord blessed him.
Then the Spirit of the Lord began to move him when he was in Mahaneh-dan between Zorah and Eshtaol.
Responsorial Psalm
R. (see 8) My mouth shall be filled with your praise, and I will sing your glory!
Be my rock of refuge,
a stronghold to give me safety,
for you are my rock and my fortress.
O my God, rescue me from the hand of the wicked.
R. My mouth shall be filled with your praise, and I will sing your glory!
For you are my hope, O LORD;
my trust, O God, from my youth.
On you I depend from birth;
from my mother’s womb you are my strength.
R. My mouth shall be filled with your praise, and I will sing your glory!
I will treat of the mighty works of the LORD;
O God, I will tell of your singular justice.
O God, you have taught me from my youth,
and till the present I proclaim your wondrous deeds.
R. My mouth shall be filled with your praise, and I will sing your glory!
Alleluia Verse
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
O Root of Jesse's stem,
sign of God's love for all his people:
come to save us without delay!
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there lived a priest named Zechariah, who was part of the priestly clan of Abijah. Elizabeth, Zechariah’s wife, also belonged to a priestly family.
Both of them were righteous in God’s eyes and lived blamelessly according to all the laws and commands of the Lord,
but they had no children. Elizabeth was unable to have children, and they were both very old now.
Now, while Zechariah and those with him were carrying out their duties,
it fell to him by lot, according to the priestly custom, to enter the Lord’s sanctuary and burn incense.
At the time of offering the incense, all the people were praying outside;
it was then that an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense.
Seeing the angel, Zechariah was distressed, and fear overtook 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.
He will bring joy and gladness to you, and many will rejoice at his birth.
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 the 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 to prepare a people ready for the Lord.”
Zechariah asked the angel:
“How can I believe this? I am an old man, and my wife is also advanced in years.”
The angel responded:
“I am Gabriel, who stands before God, and I have been sent to speak to you and bring you this good news! My words will come true in their time.
But because you did not believe, you will be silent and unable to speak until this has happened.”
Meanwhile, the people waited for Zechariah, and they were surprised that he took so long in the Sanctuary.
When he finally appeared, he couldn’t speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the Sanctuary. He stayed silent and gestured to them.
When his service was finished, Zechariah went home;
and, some time later, Elizabeth became pregnant. She kept to herself for five months, staying at home, and thinking:
“This, for me, is the Lord’s doing! This is his time for mercy and for lifting my public shame.”
Prayers of the Faithful
– For married couples who expect a child, that they may welcome the child as a present from God, we pray:
– For parents, that they may inspire their children to put their talents at the service of people, we pray:
– For prophets of our day, that the Holy Spirit may move them to awaken us with God's word from our lack of concern for the good of the community, we pray:
Prayer over the Gifts
God, our Father,
you had prepared your chosen people
to welcome your Son as the Savior
and yet his coming took them by surprise
and they did not recognize him.
Wake us up with the cry
of present-day prophets
to recognize and welcome him
not only in these signs of bread and wine
but also in the poor and the misfits
who hunger and thirst for food,
for justice and peace
and, perhaps without knowing it,
for the dignity of your children.
Grant us this through Christ our Lord.
Prayer after Communion
Lord, God of hope,
we are your people today
and yet we often hide
the presence of Jesus, your Son,
by our compromise and conformity.
Let your Son pour for us
the young wine of hope,
to break with our settled ways
and to make us new people
who reveal in our littleness and fragility
the presence in our midst
of someone much greater than we are,
your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Blessing
Christmas is near. Let our prayers become more insistent that we may become more committed to bringing the love and justice of Christ into our cold and harsh world. May God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
REFLECTIONS
Gospel: Luke 1:5-25
Do not be afraid
Today’s Gospel invites us to reflect on the angel Gabriel’s visit to Zechariah, an event brimming with meaning for our faith and our time. Gabriel’s message begins with the reassuring words: “Do not be afraid. In a world grappling with fear—be it due to climate crises, societal divisions, or personal uncertainties—this divine assurance speaks powerfully: God hears our prayers and remains with us, even amid trials.
Zechariah represents the Old Testament’s faith, a belief tinged with hesitation. Though righteous, his doubt leaves him temporarily mute— reflecting how fear and disbelief can hinder our capacity to share God’s word. Yet, the angel’s message reveals that through prayer and trust, God works wonders. This lesson is especially touching for the contemporary Church, striving to address global challenges like polarisation and secularism. As Pope Francis reminds us, authentic faith demands courage and openness to the Spirit’s surprising movements.
John the Baptist, whose birth Gabriel announces, embodies a prophetic mission: to prepare hearts for the Lord and to rebuild fractured relationships. This mission resonates with Pope Francis’ call for reconciliation and unity, seen in his emphasis on synodality and dialogue. Just as John sought to heal families and communities, so too must the Church work toward fostering peace and mutual understanding where Catholics are called to be peacemakers in turbulent times.
Finally, Elizabeth’s response—embracing her unexpected blessing with humility—contrasts with Zechariah’s doubt. Her quiet acceptance challenges us to recognise God’s hand in our lives and, like Mary, respond with active service.
May Gabriel’s message inspire us to trust in God’s providence, renew our commitment to mission, and live with hope, courage, and joy in these complex times.
Gospel: Luke 1:5-25
O Root of Jesse, you have been raised up as a sign for all peoples; kings stand silent in your presence; the nations bow down in worship before you. Come, let nothing keep you from coming to our aid.
Sometimes a truth so powerful and so beautiful is before us that we cannot but remain speechless in awe. We are like a criminal caught red-handed, that we cannot find anything to say to justify ourselves. Or as if a dearly beloved had passed away, sucking out all our past relationships with them and the meaning of everything, leaving us wordless, empty. Thus, we simply accept what is before us.
It’s as if we are before an indescribable sunset, beautiful beyond words, that we lose ourselves and become one with what is in front of us. Or the present moment seizes us, that there is no more past or future, but only now. Thus, we simply accept what is before us.
Jesus, Root and Foundation of all, the Eternal One, you came into our time and space in the silence and awe of the whole creation, come again to be the living sign of God in our life. Amen.