Zechariah's Prophecy

Then Zechariah his father, filled with the holy Spirit, prophesied, saying:

"Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has visited and brought redemption to his people.
He has raised up a horn for our salvation within the house of David his servant even as he promised through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old: salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us, to show mercy to our fathers and to be mindful of his holy covenant and of the oath he swore to Abraham our father, and to grant us that, rescued from the hand of enemies, without fear we might worship him in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. And you, child, will be called prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give his people knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God by which the daybreak from on high will visit us to shine on those who sit in darkness and death's shadow, to guide our feet into the path of peace." Luke 1:67-79

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The Lord is here among us. It is only a matter of being attuned with Him. It is just a matter of making ourselves aware of His presence. The Lord has never forsaken us much to the disappointment of those who lived as if they will live on this earth forever. More importantly and positively this is such a welcome and consoling truth that believers and disciples can hold to not only in times of grief but also in the regular and routinary aspects of our life. That we have here a God who is among us and not the kind of god that many people have thought as remote and inaccessible. Yes, indeed, a God who cares and nurtures. A God who fights for justice against oppressors and maintains peace through tolerance and harmony.

The Nativity

The angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord. Luke 2:10-11

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This good news is not news to many people because this world has already decided that only that which gives impact will merit its attention. Thanks to the technologically advanced marvels that confound the senses but do not in the least fill in the gnawing emptiness within.

But there has been recently a resurgence of interest in spiritual matters like the angels. They have captured the imagination of many as seen in a market demand for angels in figurines, books, movies and prayer books. Angels are bearers of good news and people who bring good news by their words and actions are into what we can call as angelic ministry. They announce the coming of the Lord because they make the worldly pursuits as senseless and stupid. So these "angels" remind all people of good will that unless we go back to the simplicity of the manger and the ironic scenery of the God born into poverty and helplessness then all the things that we see and hear are mere passing scenes of an insignificant movie we call life.