Gospel in Art: Blessed be the Lord God of Israel

Newgrange, grand passage tomb, Co Meath Ireland, built during the Neolithic Period, around 3200 BC © Photo by Brian Morrison courtesy of Tourism Ireland

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 24 December 2024
Luke 1:67-79

At that time: Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying,

'Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people

and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David,

as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, that we should be saved from our enemies

and from the hand of all who hate us; to show the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant, the oath that he swore to our father Abraham to grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.

And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins,

because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.'

Reflection on the prehistoric monument

A few years ago, I had the privilege of visiting Newgrange in Ireland. On 21st December, the shortest day of the year, people gather inside this megalithic passage tomb to witness a remarkable event. Weather permitting, the rays of the rising sun penetrate directly into the inner chamber of the 4,000-year-old monument, an alignment that occurs only on this day. It is a striking reminder of how our ancestors celebrated the return of light at the darkest point of the year. From that moment, the days begin to grow longer, and the nights shorter, signalling nature's renewal. The feast of Christmas, which celebrates the birth of Jesus, the Light of the World, coincides with this natural reawakening of light around us, underscoring the connection between creation and God's redemptive work.

Today's Gospel reading features the Song of Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist. In this hymn, Zechariah praises the tender mercy of God, who sends the rising Sun to bring light to those living in darkness and the shadow of death. He recognises Jesus as this rising Sun, a reflection of God's gracious light. The lights we see at Christmas, the twinkling tree lights, the candles we light, all point us towards this greater light, the warm and enduring radiance of Christ. Our calling, as Zechariah reminds us, is to welcome this light into our lives, to walk in its glow, and to reflect it in the way we live, so that others may encounter the light of God's mercy through us.

Friends, many of you will gather together in the soft glow of candlelight at Church tonight or even in our homes. We are reminded of the wondrous night over 2,000 years ago when the Light of the World, Jesus Christ, was born among us. Tonight, we celebrate the great mystery of Emmanuel, God with us, who comes into our world not with grandeur but in the simplicity and humility of a stable. May this sacred evening fill your hearts with the peace, joy, and hope that only Christ can bring. As you return home to your families and loved ones, may the radiance of this night linger in your hearts and bless your homes with the true spirit of Christmas. On behalf of all of us at Christian Art, I wish you all a very blessed and joyful Christmas Eve.

LINKS

Gospel in Art: https://christian.art/
Today's Reflection: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/luke-1-67-79-2024/