Lk 1:5-25
5In the days of Herod, King of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah of the priestly division of Abijah; his wife was from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6Both were righteous in the eyes of God... 7But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren and both were advanced in years. 8Once when he was serving as priest in his division’s turn before God... 11the angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right of the altar of incense. 12Zechariah was troubled by what he saw, and fear came upon him. 13But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall name him John. 14And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, 15for he will be great in the sight of [the] Lord. ...
21Meanwhile the people were waiting for Zechariah and were amazed that he stayed so long in the sanctuary. 22But when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He was gesturing to them but remained mute. 23Then, when his days of ministry were completed, he went home. 24After this time his wife Elizabeth conceived, and she went into seclusion for five months, saying, 25“So has the Lord done for me at a time when he has seen fit to take away my disgrace before others.”
Reflection
Barren: Luke presents the priest Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth as a good and happy couple whose only disappointment is the lack of offspring. Elizabeth is barren and now way beyond childbearing age. The angel Gabriel appears to Zechariah to announce that God has intervened in a special way and will give them a son to be called John; this son will be a joy to them and a prophet among the people.
The extraordinary conception of John the Baptist has a couple of parallels in the Old Testament which show that with God nothing is impossible. Manoah’s wife is barren, but an angel of the Lord brings the news of the coming of the child Samson who will deliver Israel from the Philistines (Jgs 13). Hannah is childless, but God answers her trusting prayer and vow, and she gives birth to Samuel, whom she dedicates to the service of Yahweh (1 Sm 1). Both children are born with their mission already determined for them.