Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/443

 “Through the  bowels  of  the  mercy  of  our  God:  in  which the Orient  from  on  high  hath  visited  us,

“To enlighten  them  that  sit  in  darkness,  and  in  the  shadow of death;  to  direct  our  feet  into  the  way  of  peace.”

And the  child  grew  and  was  strengthened  in  spirit ; and was in  the  desert  until  the  day  of  his  manifestation  to  Israel.

The Faithfulness  of  God. His  promise  to  Zachary:  “Thy  wife shall bear  thee  a son”,  was  faithfully  kept. The punishment  of  dumbness pronounced on  Zachary,  because  of  his  doubt,  was  accompanied  by  the promise that  his  dumbness  should  cease  on  the  day  when  all  that  the angel had  foretold  came  to  pass. This promise  also  was  exactly  fulfilled, for  the  moment  Zachary  asserted  that  the  child’s  name  was  John, his tongue  was  loosed,  and  he  was  able  once  more  to  speak. The instant that  he  obediently  executed  the  angel’s  command:  “Thou  shalt call his  name  John”,  speech  was  restored  to  him.

The Divinity  of  Jesus  Christ.  Inspired  by  the  Holy  Ghost,  Zachary in his  canticle  of  praise  and  thanksgiving  testifies  to  the  divine  nature of the  Redeemer. If John  was  to  be  the  prophet  of  the  “Highest”,  and to go  before  the  face  of  the  “Lord”,  then  is  the  Saviour  of  whom  this was foretold  both  Lord  and  Highest,  or,  in  other  words,  God.

The friendly  sympathy  of  their  neighbours  and  relatives  with  the joy of  the  aged  couple  is  worthy  of  praise. Zachary and  Elizabeth rejoiced that  God  had  heard  their  prayer  and  had  given  them  a son; and their  friends  really  and  sincerely  shared  their  joy. He who  possesses true brotherly  love  rejoices  at  the  happiness  of  his  fellow  creatures. Those who  are  envious  do  not  know  what  love  means,  being  full  of nothing  but  selfishness.

Holy youth. John  spent  his  youth  leading  a hermit’s  life  in  the desert, till  he  was  thirty  years  old. Far from  the  turmoil  of  the  world, he served  God  with  prayer,  fasting  and  contemplation,  and  grew  daily in grace  and  virtue. Great fortitude  was  required  to  lead  such  a severe and self-denying  life  for  so  many  years,  and  therefore  the  Evangelist says about  him  that  he  was  “strengthened  in  spirit”. His angelic  and innocent youth  prepared  John  for  being  a worthy  preacher  of  penance and precursor  of  the  Redeemer. O, how  lovely  a thing  is  youth  passed in innocence!