“Blessed be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come and has redeemed his people” (Luke 1:68).
In preparation for the Christmas season, we are reading the pre-Christmas story from Luke’s Gospel. This Sunday, we have reached Zechariah’s song/psalm. This sermon is based on that particular story, more exactly on the first words of his song, “Blessed be the Lord…” – benedictus (Latin).
The basic meaning of the word “blessing” is “a good word”: spoken to or about someone. The most frequent use of the word is in the expression, “May the Lord bless you…” The Kingdom people (That is God’s Kingdom) are called to be people of blessing (1Peter 3:9).
Zechariah’s blessing could be expressed as “Let only good words be said about God”. His benedictus comes as the acknowledgment of God’s favour/goodness/grace in his life.
Zechariah and Elisabeth were praying for a baby and we may guess that they were praying for a boy. A boy who will follow in his father’s footsteps and one day become a priest himself. The angel, standing next to the incense altar brought the first part of the good news: “…Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John” (Luke 1:13, 14).
The second part of the good news made him think. The good news was too good to be true, and Zechariah expressed his doubts.
He was too busy talking and squaring God into a box and not listening…not paying attention. Now, in silence, all he could do was to listen…to think…to reflect…to consider.
When their baby was born (just like the angel said) Zechariah’s season of silence ended and he let it out, “Blessed be the Lord….”
This Christmas season let us talk less and listen more to have a proper understanding of the good news and bless the Lord!