Zechariah who has had nothing to say since the annunciation of John’s birth because he was struck dumb now breaks out into a great hymn of praise. At the beginning and the end of his hymn he refers to God’s visitation of his people…

A costly Yes to God: The gospel records the moment when Mary said “yes” to God’s call to be the mother of God’s Son. It suggests that her “yes” did not come without a struggle. When God first spoke to her through the angel Gabriel, Mary was “deeply disturbed” . . .

The Converter of Hearts: Christians have seen in John the Baptist the messenger promised by Malachi, preparing for the Lord to “suddenly come to his temple. ” In other words, John was the messenger of the covenant, now offered to us all, in the Jesus in whom we delight. ..

Luke’s account of the annunciation concludes with Mary’s total response of acceptance, “I am the handmaid of the Lord, let what you have said be done to me.” Greatly favoured, she responds generously, with her whole life, to the grace she has received. For St. Luke, Mary is not simply the mother of Jesus; she is the perfect disciple of Jesus…

Luke has annunciation stories to both Zechariah and Mary, in parallel yet distinctive accounts. Each is startled at the angel’s appearance. Gabriel instructs each not to be afraid…

Joseph: God’s devoted servant. Today we find Joseph struggling to do the right thing, what he believed God wanted of him. Mary’s unexplained pregnancy left him in a very difficult situation…

Believe the Good News: The angel Gabriel is sent to Zechariah to bring him the good news that his wife, Elizabeth, who has been barren will soon give birth to a son, and a special son at that, someone whose calling it would be to prepare for the Lord a people fit for him. However, this good news was too much for Zechariah to hear and he could not bring himself to believe…

We value people who keep their word to us. We appreciate those who are true to the promises that they make to us. The Lord also appreciates our efforts to be true to the promises we make to him. In the parable in the gospel today, one of the sons of the father

Facing up to the truth: We must be honest with ourselves, with others and with God who is over all. We cannot forever dodge questions, camouflage the truth, and bluff our way along. ..

Elijah certainly caught the imagination of the Israelites, as patron saint for those in need. Because this fierce, fiery prophet was taken from the earth in a whirlwind…

Balancing things … The need to fill the gaps in our personality is evoked by Jesus’ words today. He quotes a proverb showing how we need a joyful side, ready to dance, and a compassionate side, always ready to sympathize

Feeling really close to God… Isaiah imagines God addressing the people with nicknames, calling them “my little worm” and “my little maggot,” as a parent might affectionately do to a child squirming in its arms. Understood in this way, the words, “worm” and “maggot,” are not demeaning, but terms of endearment when attributed to God

Keeping hope alive. . .The great prophet of the Babylonian exile whom we call “Second Isaiah” was summoned by God to comfort and strengthen the people, whose memories were haunted by the destruction of their holy city, Jerusalem. Their family bonds as well as their familiar ways of life had been shattered. The prophet imagined them saying: “My way is hidden from the Lord, and my right is disregarded by my God.”

And now I’m found… The shepherd in this gospel could seem a little foolish. He leaves ninety nine sheep on the hillside to go in search of one sheep who has rambled off and is now lost. He leaves the flock defenceless to go looking for one. He risks all ninety nine for the sake of one sheep…