The text from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invites us to consider how acting with grace and mercy spreads the message of Jesus Way in our environment.
The Reading from the Prophet Malachi proclaims the Messenger of the Covenant.
* [3:1] My messenger…before me: Mt 11:10 applies these words to John the Baptist; Mt 11:14 further identifies John as Elijah (see Mal 3:23). Some take God’s messenger in v. 1a to be a person distinct from “the lord” and “the messenger of the covenant” in v. 1b; others hold that they are one and the same person. Some consider “the lord” and “the messenger of the covenant” to be divine, while others hold that in the text’s literal sense he is a messianic earthly ruler.
* [3:23] Elijah: taken up in a whirlwind, according to 2 Kgs 2:11. Here his return seems to be foretold. A Jewish tradition interpreted this literally; the gospels saw Elijah in the person of John the Baptist (Mt 11:13–14; 17:10–13; Mk 9:9–13). (Malachi, CHAPTER 3 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 25 expresses confidence in God who forgives and guides.
* [Psalm 25] A lament. Each verse begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Such acrostic Psalms are often a series of statements only loosely connected. The psalmist mixes ardent pleas (Ps 25:1–2, 16–22) with expressions of confidence in God who forgives and guides. (Psalms, PSALM 25 | USCCB, n.d.)
The Gospel of Luke proclaims the Birth of John the Baptist.
* [1:57–66] The birth and circumcision of John above all emphasize John’s incorporation into the people of Israel by the sign of the covenant (Gn 17:1–12). The narrative of John’s circumcision also prepares the way for the subsequent description of the circumcision of Jesus in Lk 2:21. At the beginning of his two-volume work Luke shows those who play crucial roles in the inauguration of Christianity to be wholly a part of the people of Israel. At the end of the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 21:20; 22:3; 23:6–9; 24:14–16; 26:2–8, 22–23) he will argue that Christianity is the direct descendant of Pharisaic Judaism.
* [1:59] The practice of Palestinian Judaism at this time was to name the child at birth; moreover, though naming a male child after the father is not completely unknown, the usual practice was to name the child after the grandfather (see Lk 1:61). The naming of the child John and Zechariah’s recovery from his loss of speech should be understood as fulfilling the angel’s announcement to Zechariah in Lk 1:13, 20. (Luke, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB, n.d.)
Greg Dyche considers Zechariah, who has also been silenced for doubting and looks at the meaning of biblical names. Zechariah means “Yahweh Remembers”, and Elizabeth can mean “Yahweh’s Oath”.
When the baby’s name is doubted, “Yahweh Remembers” asks for a tablet to write on. The old law, symbolically represented by Zechariah (a Levite), written on tablets, was silenced until the new law, written on a tablet, was given. What’s the new law? What does John’s name mean? Grace.
Grace, the son of Yahweh-Remembers and Yahweh’s-Oath, was born six months ago. Mary is due any day. The silence is broken. The tablet is written. The Way is being prepared. And I can’t wait. (Dyche, n.d.)
Don Schwager quotes The parallels between John and Jesus, by Ephrem the Syrian (306-373 AD)
"The elderly Elizabeth gave birth to the last of the prophets, and Mary, a young girl, to the Lord of the angels. The daughter of Aaron gave birth to the voice in the desert (Isaiah 63:9), but the daughter of David to the strong God of the earth. The barren one gave birth to him who remits sins, but the Virgin gave birth to him who takes them away (John 1:29). Elizabeth gave birth to him who reconciled people through repentance, but Mary gave birth to him who purified the lands of uncleanness. The elder one lit a lamp in the house of Jacob, his father, for this lamp itself was John (John 5:35), while the younger one lit the Sun of Justice (Malachi 4:2) for all the nations. The angel announced to Zechariah, so that the slain one would proclaim the crucified one and that the hated one would proclaim the envied one. He who was to baptize with water would proclaim him who would baptize with fire and with the Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:11). The light, which was not obscure, would proclaim the Sun of Justice. The one filled with the Spirit would proclaim concerning him who gives the Spirit. The priest calling with the trumpet would proclaim concerning the one who is to come at the sound of the trumpet at the end. The voice would proclaim concerning the Word, and the one who saw the dove would proclaim concerning him upon whom the dove rested, like the lightning before the thunder." (excerpt from COMMENTARY ON TATIAN'S DIATESSARON 1.31) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Luke 1:57-66 comments that Zechariah’s inability to speak likely caused him to step away from his priestly duties, which gave him more time for prayer and contemplation. And with no voice, he was more open to listening to the Holy Spirit. What a blessing that was!
How are you doing at listening—to the Spirit or to other people? Especially this week, are there ways God is calling you to slow down and ponder his word and his promises? You don’t need a major event like Zechariah’s to silence you. You can choose to do it on your own. And as you’ll see in tomorrow’s Gospel, the blessings that will flow can be unimaginable!
“Jesus, give me a listening heart!” (Meditation on Luke 1:57-66, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments that the Malachi passage speaks about a messenger to separate the good from the bad fulfilled as Elijah and later in John the Baptist. In the Gospel of Luke Elizabeth wants to name her baby, John “God is merciful”. Zechariah signals His name is John after not believing the power of his own prayers. After a time of silence he is able to proclaim God’s will. Friar Jude notes the proclamation in the Benedictus, the canticle following in Luke’s Gospel.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, cites Theologian Ursula King who considers the wisdom of the Jesuit priest, scientist, and mystic Pierre Teilhard de Chardin (1881–1955), who considered Christ’s incarnation in the physical world. King summarizes Teilhard’s contribution to an expansive understanding of Christ’s Incarnation.
In one sense Teilhard’s vision was a uniquely personal one…. Yet he also knew that the importance and strength of this vision transcended the limits of his own life, that it could fire people’s imagination, inspire their efforts, and give them hope…. His vision of the dignity of human life embedded in the larger web of cosmic life, his emphasis on global responsibility, action and choice in shaping the future of humanity on our planet, and the need for life-affirming spiritual goals can inspire people of all beliefs and none. For Christians Teilhard de Chardin is a remarkable, shining example of creative Christian renewal that believes in life, affirms life as a task to be done, a work to be achieved, and celebrates life as a most precious and wonderful gift to be loved and experienced as a sign of the Spirit who sustains us all. [3] (Rohr, n.d.)
We prepare to celebrate the Nativity of Christ and rejoice in the Spirit that motivates our acceptance of the gifts of grace, mercy and renewal.
References
Dyche, G. (n.d.). Daily Reflection. Creighton Online Ministries: Home. Retrieved December 23, 2025, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-december-23-2025
Luke, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved December 23, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/1?
Malachi, CHAPTER 3 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved December 23, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/malachi/3
Meditation on Luke 1:57-66. (n.d.). Word Among Us. Retrieved December 23, 2025, from https://wau.org/meditations/2025/12/23/1449903/
Psalms, PSALM 25 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved December 23, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/25?4
Rohr, R. (n.d.). Daily Meditations — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved December 23, 2025, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/inspired-by-the-christ/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). What Then Will This Child Be? Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved December 23, 2025, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/
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