Friday of the Third Week of Advent – December 19

Sent On God’s Mission

Liturgical Cycle: A | Lectionary Cycle: II

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 comes probably from the joy of an overwhelming message, too great to be put into words.

Underlying these vocation stories is the idea that people are weak, that salvation is gratuitously given by God, that barrenness (the barren women) gives way to fertility, and 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

Judges 13:2-7, 24-25a

There was a certain man from Zorah, of the clan of the Danites,
whose name was Manoah.
His wife was barren and had borne no children.
An angel of the LORD appeared to the woman and said to her,
“Though you are barren and have had no children,
yet you will conceive and bear a son.
Now, then, be careful to take no wine or strong drink
and to eat nothing unclean.
As for the son you will conceive and bear,
no razor shall touch his head,
for this boy is to be consecrated to God from the womb.
It is he who will begin the deliverance of Israel
from the power of the Philistines.”

The woman went and told her husband,
“A man of God came to me;
he had the appearance of an angel of God, terrible indeed.
I did not ask him where he came from, nor did he tell me his name.
But he said to me,
‘You will be with child and will bear a son.
So take neither wine nor strong drink, and eat nothing unclean.
For the boy shall be consecrated to God from the womb,
until the day of his death.’”

The woman bore a son and named him Samson.
The boy grew up and the LORD blessed him;
the Spirit of the LORD stirred him.

Responsorial Psalm

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

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

Luke 1:5-25

In the days of Herod, King of Judea,
there was a priest named Zechariah
of the priestly division of Abijah;
his wife was from the daughters of Aaron,
and her name was Elizabeth.
Both were righteous in the eyes of God,
observing all the commandments
and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly.
But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren
and both were advanced in years.

Once when he was serving as priest
in his division’s turn before God,
according to the practice of the priestly service,
he was chosen by lot
to enter the sanctuary of the Lord to burn incense.
Then, when the whole assembly of the people was praying outside
at the hour of the incense offering,
the angel of the Lord appeared to him,
standing at the right of the altar of incense.
Zechariah was troubled by what he saw, and fear came upon him.

But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah,
because your prayer has been heard.
Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son,
and you shall name him John.
And you will have joy and gladness,
and many will rejoice at his birth,
for he will be great in the sight of the Lord.
He will drink neither wine nor strong drink.
He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb,
and he will turn many of the children of Israel
to the Lord their God.
He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah
to turn the hearts of fathers toward children
and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous,
to prepare a people fit for the Lord.”

Then Zechariah said to the angel,
“How shall I know this?
For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.”
And the angel said to him in reply,
“I am Gabriel, who stand before God.
I was sent to speak to you and to announce to you this good news.
But now you will be speechless and unable to talk
until the day these things take place,
because you did not believe my words,
which will be fulfilled at their proper time.”
Meanwhile the people were waiting for Zechariah
and were amazed that he stayed so long in the sanctuary.
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.

Then, when his days of ministry were completed, he went home.

After this time his wife Elizabeth conceived,
and she went into seclusion for five months, saying,
“So has the Lord done for me at a time when he has seen fit
to take away my disgrace before others.”

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 inspire their children to put their talents at the service of God and 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 upon us
the young wine of hope,
to rupture our settled ways
and 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 bring 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.

REFLECTION:

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.

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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.