The Monday after Gaudete Sunday, the Third Sunday in Advent
Posted on December 15, 2025 by under
Scripture: St. Luke 1:1-15 (NKJV)
1:1 Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things which have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us, 3 it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus, 4 that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed.
5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. 7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well advanced in years.
8 So it was, that while he was serving as priest before God in the order of his division, 9 according to the custom of the priesthood, his lot fell to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. 10 And the whole multitude of the people was praying outside at the hour of incense.
11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12 And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.
13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. 14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. 15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, seven from his mother’s womb.”
Devotion
Luke begins his Gospel talking about the certainty we need in the Word that was delivered to us; the Divine Word, which is the source of our instruction. Then we hear about how an angel brings a Word from God to Zacharias and Elizabeth. This is an interesting story, as it seems to echo so many stories of the Old Testament, especially the promise of Isaac to Abraham and Sarah.
The parallels to the Old Testament are not accidental. Zacharias and Elizabeth are representatives of the faithful remnant of God’s Old Testament people. It is not accidental that Luke is setting this story in the temple, in Jerusalem. The old systems are passing away. With the birth of John, and ultimately Jesus, we see the new heavenly kingdom breaking forth. The end times are soon to break upon the world. John is to be the forerunner of the Alpha and Omega. John’s name means “God is gracious.” The new people of God will be defined by grace, not law.
God will create life in the midst of Elizabeth’s dead womb. God will bring life to His wandering people out of pure grace. God’s grace is not moved by men’s efforts. He gives grace and life by His own power. John is the last of the Old Testament prophets and the first of those who will believe in the incarnate Christ.
Collect: Lord, we beseech Thee, give ear to our prayers, and lighten the darkness of our hearts, by Thy gracious visitation; Who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
