Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Advent – December 23
God is Gracious
Liturgical Cycle: B | Lectionary Cycle: I
Introduction
Indeed, “God is gracious.” This is the meaning of the name John. We are told today about the birth of the forerunner of Jesus, John the Baptist. We remember the coming of the Savior and how a special messenger of God had to prepare the hearts of people for the coming of the Savior. But our Savior Jesus came long ago. How much are we living as people who are saved? How much do we enter into God’s plan to save our world? How much do we prepare Jesus’ coming into the hearts of people today?
Opening Prayer
Lord our God,
in this time of waiting
you must still be waiting to see
how we respond to the coming of your Son Jesus
in our hearts and in our world.
Make us people of hope,
not people of the past,
but men and women,
the young and children too,
who want to see Jesus our Savior
alive and active among us.
We ask you this through Christ our Lord.
First Reading
Now I am sending my messenger ahead of me to clear the way; then, suddenly, the Lord, for whom you long, will enter the sanctuary. The envoy of the covenant, which you greatly desire, is already coming, says the Lord of hosts.
Who can endure the day of his coming and remain standing when he appears? For he will be like fire in the furnace and like the fuller’s lye.
He will be as a refiner and a purifier. He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them, like gold and silver. Then the Lord will have priests who will present the offerings as they should be.
And the Lord will accept the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem with pleasure, as in past days.
I am going to send you the prophet Elijah before the day of the Lord comes, for it will be a great and terrible day.
He will reconcile parents with their children, and children with their parents, so that I may not have to curse this land when I come.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 25:4-5ab, 8-9, 10 and 14
R. (see Luke 21:28) Lift up your heads and see; your redemption is near at hand.
Your ways, O LORD, make known to me;
teach me your paths,
Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my savior.
R. Lift up your heads and see; your redemption is near at hand.
Good and upright is the LORD;
thus he shows sinners the way.
He guides the humble to justice,
he teaches the humble his way.
R. Lift up your heads and see; your redemption is near at hand.
All the paths of the LORD are kindness and constancy
toward those who keep his covenant and his decrees.
The friendship of the LORD is with those who fear him,
and his covenant, for their instruction.
R. Lift up your heads and see; your redemption is near at hand.
Alleluia Verse
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
O King of all nations and keystone of the Church;
come and save man, whom you formed from the dust!
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
7 When the time came for Elizabeth, she gave birth to a son.
Her neighbors and relatives heard that the merciful Lord had done a wonderful thing for her, and they rejoiced with her.
When they came to attend the child’s circumcision on the eighth day, they wanted to name him Zechariah after his father.
But his mother said:
“Not so; he shall be called John.”
They told her:
“But no one in your family has that name!”
and they gestured to his father to indicate the name he wanted to give him.
Zechariah asked for a writing tablet and wrote:
“His name is John.”
They were very surprised.
Immediately, Zechariah could speak again, and his first words were in praise of God.
A deep reverence fell on everyone in the neighborhood and across the hill country of Judea, as people talked about these events.
All who heard about it reflected and asked:
“What will this child be?”
Because they recognized that the Lord’s hand was with him.
Prayers of the Faithful
– Lord Jesus, give the grace of faith to people who keep groping in the dark for something or someone like you to give meaning to their lives, we pray:
– Lord Jesus, give the grace of peace to the country and the people where you were born, whose center is Jerusalem, the city of peace, we pray:
– Lord Jesus, give the grace of liberation to people captive in their evil and in oppression, we pray:
Prayer over the Gifts
Lord our God,
you are always coming
to renew us, to be gracious to us.
Make us attentive and eager
to keep welcoming your Son Jesus Christ
as one of us, here and now,
living in us, active in us,
going with us our pilgrim way
as our Lord who leads us to you,
our living God for ever and ever.
Prayer after Communion
God of our hope,
when we hear the word of your Son
and sit at his table,
we realize how deaf we often still are
to his word of life and his love.
Make us hear him
when he knocks at the door of our hearts,
dispose us to let him enter
and to let him make us
messengers of his integrity and peace.
For he is our Lord for ever.
Blessing
At the birth of John the Baptist his father Zechariah praised God for giving him a son who was to do great things for God. We too give praise to God for giving us his Son Jesus, and in him the grace of forgiveness and life. May almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
REFLECTIONS
Gospel: Luke 1:57-66
Two births that changed history
The Gospel of Luke opens with the exceptional story of two miraculous births—John and Jesus—which marks a crucial moment in God’s salvation plan. Luke depicts these events as the realisation of divine promises brought to life by faithful figures: Zechariah and Elizabeth, along with Mary and Joseph. The experiences of these individuals show us that God often works in everyday life through simple and shared moments of human experience.
Pope Francis emphasises the importance of community and accompaniment that reflect a communal joy and shared faith in a Church that walks together as the People of God. Elizabeth’s and Mary’s encounter highlights the transformative power of mutual support and the presence of God in relationships. Similarly, Pope Francis invites us to build synodal communities where dialogue and shared mission deepen our faith and witness.
The naming of John is particularly striking. Elizabeth’s defiance of societal expectations and Zechariah’s affirmation of the angel’s message reflect an openness to the newness of God’s work. Pope Francis continually reminds us to embrace the surprises of the Spirit and to move beyond rigid structures to witness the Gospel in fresh ways. In today’s rapidly changing world, this openness is crucial as the Church seeks to address social, ecological, and spiritual challenges.
Luke’s use of faith as a lens—like an X-ray—encourages us to see beyond the surface of life’s events to perceive God’s hidden hand. Do we, like Luke, view our lives through the lens of faith, discerning God’s presence even in our moments ofstruggles? Let us strive tocultivate communities of faith, joy, and courage, living out the Gospel in the spirit of the two miraculous births that changed history forever.