Luke 1:5-80Luke 1:5-80
There was in the days of Herod the King of Judea, a certain priest named Zachary, of the course of Abia, and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name Elizabeth. And they were both just before God, walking in all the commandments and justifications of the Lord without blame. And they had no son; for that Elizabeth was barren, and they both were well advanced in years. And it came to pass, that while he executed the priestly office before God, in the order of his course, according to the custom of the priestly office, it was his lot to offer incense, go ing into the temple of the Lord. And all the multitude of the people was praying without, at the hour of incense. And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And Zachary seeing him, was troubled, and fear fell upon him; but the angel said to him, Fear not, Zachary, for thy prayer is heard, and thy wife Eliza beth shall bear thee a son; and thou shalt call his name John; and thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth; for he shall be great before the Lord; and shall drink no wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb; and he shall con vert many of the children of Israel, to the Lord their God: and he shall go before Him, in the spirit and power of Elias; that he may turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the incredulous to the wisdom of the just, to prepare for the Lord a perfect people. And Zachary said to the angel: Whereby shall I know this; for I am an old man, and my wife advanced in years. And the angel answering said to him: I am Gabriel who stand before God; and am sent to speak to thee, and to bring to thee these good tidings. And, behold thou shalt be dumb, and shalt not be able to speak until the day wherein these things shall come to pass; because thou hast not believed my words, which shall be fulfilled in their time. And the people were waiting for Zachary; and they wondered that he stayed so long in the temple. And when he came out he could not speak to them: and they understood that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he made signs to them and remained dumb.
And it came to pass after the days of his office were accomplished, that he departed to his own house. And after those days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying: Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein He hath regard to take away my reproach among men.
Now Elizabeth's full time of being delivered was come, and she brought forth a son. And her neighbors and kinsfolks heard that the Lord had showed His great mercy towards her, and they congratulated her. And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they called him by his father's name, Zachary. And his mother, answering, said: Not so; but he shall be called John. And they said to her: There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name. And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called. And, demanding a writing table, he wrote, saying: John is his name. And they all wondered. And immediately his mouth was opened, and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God. And fear came upon all their neighbors; and all these things were noised abroad over all the hill-country of Judea. And all they that heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying: What an one, think ye, shall this child be? For the hand of the Lord was with him.
- text taken from Heaven's Bright Queen, by William James Walsh