For the 3rd Sunday in a row, we are in Luke’s Gospel, chapter 1, cherry-picking (if you will) some of the ripest, sweetest, most beautiful fruit to be savored from the ever-fruitful Christmas Story.

On the 1st Sunday of Advent, we climbed a short ladder to reach a very simple phrase spoken by Angel Gabriel to young Mary as he prophesied to her about her Most Extraordinary Child, namely, that “He Shall Be Grrrrrreat!”

On the 2nd Sunday of Advent, we climbed a little higher to personally apply Mary’s jubilant praise as she met her pregnant cousin Elizabeth who provided triple confirmation for her that everything Gabriel had said was absolutely true, causing Mary to joyfully exclaim, “My soul Magnifies the Lord!”

Today is the 3rd Sunday of Advent and we turn to yet another prominent player in the same chapter, Zachariah the Priest (Elizabeth’s husband), who is about to become the father of John the Baptist. When Angel Gabriel told him about his wife’s pregnancy, he questioned it. He doubted. He asked too many questions and as a result, Gabriel pressed the “mute button” on Zachariah’s mouth – he couldn’t speak another word! At least, not until after Elizabeth gave birth to John. Only then did God restore his speech. And when He did, Zachariah too explodes with a jubilant song of praise, including these marvelous words:

76 And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High;
for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,
77 to give his people the knowledge of salvation
through the forgiveness of their sins,
78 because of the tender mercy of our God,
by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven
79 to shine on those living in darkness
and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the path of peace.”

If you read carefully, you will see precisely what God will be accomplishing through the advent of Jesus Christ His Son. God is being God when He is showing mercy, pardoning sins and saving His people through His “Tender Mercy”.

Welcome dear friends, to Home Church Langley!