1 00:00:10,700 --> 00:00:13,000 Hi, everyone. Welcome back to the Daily 2 00:00:13,000 --> 00:00:17,100 gospel, exegesis podcast, produced biological Bible study. 3 00:00:17,500 --> 00:00:19,800 I hope you're enjoying this approach to scripture where 4 00:00:19,800 --> 00:00:23,300 every day we dive into the Gospel reading and we aim to do 5 00:00:23,300 --> 00:00:26,400 a verse by verse exegesis of scripture, which is where we 6 00:00:26,400 --> 00:00:29,900 must start as Catholics. We have to start with 7 00:00:30,000 --> 00:00:32,900 Understanding the literal sense. If we want to understand the 8 00:00:32,900 --> 00:00:36,000 scripture that is Catholic teaching and this podcast is all 9 00:00:36,000 --> 00:00:38,900 about helping, you understand? 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Now, on today's episode, we are 34 00:01:55,200 --> 00:01:59,800 looking at the reading for the daytime Mass on December 24th. 35 00:02:00,300 --> 00:02:03,600 So if you go to tonight's Mass, so if you go to the vigil mass 36 00:02:03,600 --> 00:02:06,900 tonight, so that will be the Christmas Eve vigil mass, you 37 00:02:06,900 --> 00:02:08,400 will actually hear a different reading. 38 00:02:08,600 --> 00:02:11,800 So, we're looking at the daytime Mass on, December 24th. 39 00:02:11,800 --> 00:02:14,300 If you want to hear the Christmas Eve, vigil mass 40 00:02:14,300 --> 00:02:17,100 reading, you want to hear an exegesis of that you can get 41 00:02:17,100 --> 00:02:20,400 access to that through the patreon page as a bonus episode. 42 00:02:20,900 --> 00:02:25,300 So today's reading for December 24th, it's Luke chapter 1 verses 43 00:02:25,300 --> 00:02:30,100 67 to 79. John's, father Zechariah was 44 00:02:30,100 --> 00:02:34,500 filled with the Holy Spirit and he spoke this prophecy blessed, 45 00:02:34,500 --> 00:02:36,600 be the Lord, the god of Israel for. 46 00:02:36,600 --> 00:02:40,500 He has visited his people. He has come to their rescue, and 47 00:02:40,500 --> 00:02:44,800 he has raised up for us, a power for salvation in the house of 48 00:02:44,800 --> 00:02:48,200 his servant David. Even as he proclaimed by the 49 00:02:48,200 --> 00:02:51,900 mouth of his holy prophets. From ancient times that he would 50 00:02:51,900 --> 00:02:55,400 save us from our enemies. And from the hand of all who 51 00:02:55,400 --> 00:03:00,800 hate us, thus he shows Mercy to our ancestors, thus he remembers 52 00:03:00,800 --> 00:03:06,000 His Holy Covenant, the oath, he swore to Our Father Abraham and 53 00:03:06,000 --> 00:03:10,100 he would grant us free from Fear to be delivered from the hands 54 00:03:10,100 --> 00:03:14,600 of our enemies to serve him in Holiness and virtue in his 55 00:03:14,600 --> 00:03:19,800 presence, all our days, And you little child, you shall be 56 00:03:19,800 --> 00:03:24,000 called the prophet of the most high for you will go before the 57 00:03:24,000 --> 00:03:27,800 Lord, to prepare the way for him to give his people knowledge of 58 00:03:27,800 --> 00:03:31,000 Salvation, through the Forgiveness of their sins. 59 00:03:31,500 --> 00:03:35,900 This by the tender, mercy of our God, who from on high will bring 60 00:03:35,900 --> 00:03:40,400 the Rising Sun to visit us to give light to those who live in 61 00:03:40,400 --> 00:03:44,800 darkness and the shadow of death and to guide our feet into the 62 00:03:44,800 --> 00:03:47,900 way of Peace. So This is What a beautiful 63 00:03:47,900 --> 00:03:50,000 reading we have today. It's basically a song that 64 00:03:50,000 --> 00:03:53,700 Zechariah sings and it's one that's well worth meditating on 65 00:03:53,700 --> 00:03:56,500 rather than just studying from an academic perspective, which 66 00:03:56,500 --> 00:03:59,500 is our focus in on this podcast, helping you understand the 67 00:03:59,500 --> 00:04:02,300 literal sense. It's also one of those passages 68 00:04:02,300 --> 00:04:05,700 like many others really in Luke's gospel, which will bear a 69 00:04:05,700 --> 00:04:08,500 lot of fruit in your life, if you just sit with it and reflect 70 00:04:08,500 --> 00:04:11,000 on it. So what we have today, it has 71 00:04:11,000 --> 00:04:13,100 actually been given a name in Catholic tradition. 72 00:04:13,100 --> 00:04:16,600 This great prayer, this great song of Zechariah is called the 73 00:04:17,100 --> 00:04:19,800 Victus, which is Latin for blessed. 74 00:04:19,800 --> 00:04:22,900 So this whole song that we're going to study today is called 75 00:04:22,900 --> 00:04:25,900 the Benedictus and it's involved a lot in the Liturgy of the 76 00:04:25,900 --> 00:04:28,000 Hours. So you're probably familiar with 77 00:04:28,000 --> 00:04:29,800 this. If you do the Liturgy of the 78 00:04:29,800 --> 00:04:33,800 Hours quite often. So what's the context of today's 79 00:04:33,800 --> 00:04:38,400 passage just prior to this John the Baptist has been born. 80 00:04:38,400 --> 00:04:42,700 He's been named by Zechariah and Zechariah has been healed from 81 00:04:42,700 --> 00:04:45,100 being unable to speak. So, all of that has come just 82 00:04:45,100 --> 00:04:47,900 before this. So as soon as, Zechariah is 83 00:04:47,900 --> 00:04:50,100 healed. He goes on to Proclaim this song 84 00:04:50,200 --> 00:04:53,600 that we hear today. Verse 67, John's father 85 00:04:53,600 --> 00:04:56,100 Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit. 86 00:04:56,700 --> 00:04:59,900 Notice this he's filled with the Holy Spirit, the holy spirit is 87 00:04:59,900 --> 00:05:04,300 very active in these early days. Even before Jesus is born, the 88 00:05:04,300 --> 00:05:07,100 holy spirit is active in zechariah's life in John. 89 00:05:07,100 --> 00:05:10,200 The Baptist's life. In fact earlier in the chapter, 90 00:05:10,500 --> 00:05:12,600 if you've been listening in the last few days you will know that 91 00:05:12,600 --> 00:05:16,100 both Elizabeth and John have already been filled with the 92 00:05:16,108 --> 00:05:18,100 Holy Spirit. Earlier in the chapter. 93 00:05:18,300 --> 00:05:21,300 And now we have is Zechariah as the father of the family. 94 00:05:21,300 --> 00:05:25,000 Being filled with the Holy Spirit and he speaks this 95 00:05:25,000 --> 00:05:27,900 prophecy. Now, it's called a prophecy. 96 00:05:27,900 --> 00:05:32,000 This song here really, the first half, is not exactly a prophecy. 97 00:05:32,000 --> 00:05:35,100 It's just praising God for sending the Messiah, but then 98 00:05:35,100 --> 00:05:37,200 the second half as will see, it is a prophecy. 99 00:05:37,200 --> 00:05:39,500 It's a prediction about what's going to happen to, John the 100 00:05:39,500 --> 00:05:42,600 Baptist. So the song, The Benedictus 101 00:05:42,600 --> 00:05:46,100 divides into two half the two halves the first half is about 102 00:05:46,600 --> 00:05:48,600 thanking. God and praising him. 103 00:05:48,800 --> 00:05:51,400 And the second half is predicting, what's going to 104 00:05:51,407 --> 00:05:53,500 happen to John the Baptist. So let's start with the first 105 00:05:53,500 --> 00:05:57,100 half verse 68. Zechariah says, blessed, be the 106 00:05:57,100 --> 00:06:01,200 Lord, the god of Israel. Now, even here we can see, this 107 00:06:01,200 --> 00:06:04,700 is a very Jewish prayer blessed, be the Lord, the god of Israel, 108 00:06:05,400 --> 00:06:07,200 The Book of Psalms in the Old Testament. 109 00:06:07,200 --> 00:06:10,400 It's divided up into five separate books, if you study it 110 00:06:10,400 --> 00:06:14,400 carefully, and several of those big books in The Book of Psalms 111 00:06:15,000 --> 00:06:18,100 end with this phrase, blessed, be the Lord, the god of Israel. 112 00:06:18,100 --> 00:06:20,800 So, if you look at Psalm 41, which is the end of one section 113 00:06:20,800 --> 00:06:24,600 of the Psalms, and also some 72, which is the end of another 114 00:06:24,600 --> 00:06:27,800 section of the Psalms they both end with blessed, be the Lord, 115 00:06:27,800 --> 00:06:30,900 the god of Israel. So by using these words 116 00:06:30,900 --> 00:06:35,200 Zechariah, clearly sees what's happening to him and the birth 117 00:06:35,200 --> 00:06:38,500 of John the Baptist as the Fulfillment of many of the Old 118 00:06:38,500 --> 00:06:41,500 Testament prophecies, that's why he says blessed be the Lord, the 119 00:06:41,500 --> 00:06:45,300 god of Israel. Now Zechariah is going to begin, 120 00:06:45,300 --> 00:06:48,400 praising God for sending Jesus as the Messiah, which is 121 00:06:48,400 --> 00:06:51,600 interesting. Because up until now in Luke's 122 00:06:51,600 --> 00:06:55,100 gospel Zechariah, hasn't been told anything about the Messiah, 123 00:06:55,100 --> 00:06:58,100 he doesn't actually know that the Messiah is coming, he knows 124 00:06:58,100 --> 00:07:00,700 that John, the Baptist is going to have a role in Preparing 125 00:07:00,700 --> 00:07:04,400 People for the coming of God. But Zechariah himself hasn't 126 00:07:04,400 --> 00:07:08,800 been told any information about the Messiah so it's possible 127 00:07:08,800 --> 00:07:11,900 that he got this information that the Messiah is coming from. 128 00:07:11,900 --> 00:07:16,600 Mary maybe he's Spoken to Mary and Mary has relayed. 129 00:07:16,600 --> 00:07:19,300 What the angel Gabriel has told her about the coming of the 130 00:07:19,300 --> 00:07:23,500 Messiah, or maybe Zechariah has been given extra information by 131 00:07:23,500 --> 00:07:26,800 the holy spirit that has not been narrated by Luke, but by 132 00:07:26,800 --> 00:07:29,800 this time, Zechariah knows that John. 133 00:07:29,800 --> 00:07:32,600 The Baptist role is to prepare people for the Messiah. 134 00:07:33,700 --> 00:07:36,400 He says blessed be the Lord, the god of Israel for. 135 00:07:36,400 --> 00:07:41,100 He has visited his people. He has come to their rescue, or 136 00:07:41,100 --> 00:07:43,300 you can translate this. He has visited and redeemed. 137 00:07:43,400 --> 00:07:46,200 Deemed his people. Now usually, when you hear this 138 00:07:46,200 --> 00:07:48,800 phrase in the Old Testament, he has come to their rescue. 139 00:07:48,800 --> 00:07:52,000 It basically means giving assistance to his people, 140 00:07:52,000 --> 00:07:55,800 helping the Jews, and typically it's in the context of rescuing 141 00:07:55,800 --> 00:08:00,300 them from physical captivity. Like, in The Exodus, God came to 142 00:08:00,300 --> 00:08:03,800 the rescue of the Israelites. And so, when Zechariah he is 143 00:08:03,800 --> 00:08:07,300 says, blessed be God for. He has visited his people, he 144 00:08:07,300 --> 00:08:10,500 has come to their rescue. It probably tells us that 145 00:08:10,500 --> 00:08:13,800 Zechariah is thinking of the coming of the Messiah, Which he 146 00:08:13,800 --> 00:08:16,900 knows is about to happen. He's thinking of that in Earthly 147 00:08:16,900 --> 00:08:18,800 terms. He thinks that when the Messiah 148 00:08:18,800 --> 00:08:23,000 comes, he's going to physically politically deliver the Jewish 149 00:08:23,000 --> 00:08:26,300 people and that was a commonly held Jewish view at the time. 150 00:08:27,200 --> 00:08:29,200 But certainly there's a deeper sense here. 151 00:08:29,800 --> 00:08:33,200 Jesus the Messiah is going to come to the people's rescue in a 152 00:08:33,200 --> 00:08:36,000 much deeper. More spiritual sense is going to 153 00:08:36,000 --> 00:08:39,100 save people from their sins. And literally it's going to be 154 00:08:39,100 --> 00:08:42,700 God, visiting his people. So maybe even Zechariah here, 155 00:08:42,700 --> 00:08:45,600 doesn't know. No, the true significance of 156 00:08:45,600 --> 00:08:48,500 what he's saying when he says, God has visited, his people 157 00:08:49,800 --> 00:08:53,800 verse 69, Zechariah says, he has raised up for us, a power for 158 00:08:53,800 --> 00:08:57,800 salvation in the house of his servant David or you can 159 00:08:57,800 --> 00:09:01,200 translate that he's raised a horn of Salvation, which is a 160 00:09:01,200 --> 00:09:04,600 very old testament term, which basically, means strength Horn 161 00:09:04,600 --> 00:09:08,800 of Salvation, is a strong person who will bring Salvation on 162 00:09:08,800 --> 00:09:11,600 behalf of the Jews. There's many Old Testament 163 00:09:11,600 --> 00:09:15,100 prophecies, which say that the View over the Jews, the Messiah, 164 00:09:15,800 --> 00:09:18,900 one day he will come from the House of David specifically. 165 00:09:18,900 --> 00:09:22,400 If you look at second Samuel chapter 7, it talks about how 166 00:09:22,400 --> 00:09:26,000 the Messiah will be from the House of David and that's what's 167 00:09:26,000 --> 00:09:30,000 primarily in view here. So when Zechariah says, he has 168 00:09:30,000 --> 00:09:32,900 raised up for us, a power of Salvation, or a horn of 169 00:09:32,900 --> 00:09:37,000 Salvation, which is a symbol of strength Zechariah perceives 170 00:09:37,000 --> 00:09:39,400 that this is about to be fulfilled. 171 00:09:39,400 --> 00:09:43,200 In Jesus, God is going to raise up a power of salvation. 172 00:09:43,700 --> 00:09:46,500 In the Messiah, he's not thinking of John, the Baptist 173 00:09:46,500 --> 00:09:48,800 here. When Zechariah says he has 174 00:09:48,800 --> 00:09:51,800 raised up for us, a power of Salvation in the house of his 175 00:09:51,800 --> 00:09:54,200 servant. David, he's not thinking of John 176 00:09:54,200 --> 00:09:57,500 the Baptist at this point because John the Baptist is not 177 00:09:57,500 --> 00:10:00,600 from the House of David Zechariah is thinking of the 178 00:10:00,600 --> 00:10:03,700 Messiah who he knows will be from the House of David. 179 00:10:04,500 --> 00:10:07,900 Zechariah continues. He says, even as he proclaimed 180 00:10:07,900 --> 00:10:11,000 by the mouth of his holy prophets from ancient times. 181 00:10:12,300 --> 00:10:15,900 So the Old Testament has lots of prophecies than the Messiah will 182 00:10:15,900 --> 00:10:19,300 come and that's what Zechariah is referring to when he says, 183 00:10:19,700 --> 00:10:22,500 God has proclaimed by the mouth of his holy prophets from 184 00:10:22,500 --> 00:10:25,300 ancient times. So many of the prophets, both 185 00:10:25,300 --> 00:10:27,900 Major Prophets and Minor Prophets have predicted the 186 00:10:27,900 --> 00:10:31,600 coming of the Messiah Zechariah inspired by the Holy Spirit 187 00:10:31,600 --> 00:10:34,200 perceives that all of that is about to be fulfilled. 188 00:10:34,400 --> 00:10:39,200 The Messiah is coming. Verse 71, he would save us from 189 00:10:39,200 --> 00:10:42,100 our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us. 190 00:10:43,200 --> 00:10:44,800 So here we have very good evidence. 191 00:10:44,800 --> 00:10:48,100 That Zechariah is thinking that when the Messiah comes, he will 192 00:10:48,100 --> 00:10:51,500 be a political savior. Even the Disciples of Jesus 193 00:10:51,500 --> 00:10:55,600 thought this it was a very common view at the time, he says 194 00:10:55,900 --> 00:10:59,200 the Messiah will save us from our enemies and from the hand of 195 00:10:59,200 --> 00:11:04,000 all who hate us Zechariah is tapping into this common view 196 00:11:04,000 --> 00:11:06,700 that the Messiah when he comes will be a political leader. 197 00:11:06,800 --> 00:11:10,600 But who is going to save the Jews from the Romans, the Jews 198 00:11:10,600 --> 00:11:12,500 in Jesus time. Basically thought that when the 199 00:11:12,500 --> 00:11:15,800 Messiah comes to save people, it will be to save them in a 200 00:11:15,808 --> 00:11:19,200 political sense. So, when Zechariah says, he'll 201 00:11:19,200 --> 00:11:22,500 save us from the hands of all who hate us, he really does 202 00:11:22,500 --> 00:11:25,200 think that the Messiah will save them from the Romans. 203 00:11:26,200 --> 00:11:29,400 So, Zechariah, understood, some things that are about to come. 204 00:11:29,400 --> 00:11:32,200 He knows the messiah's coming, but he's doesn't understand 205 00:11:32,200 --> 00:11:35,300 things perfectly. He's still influenced by his own 206 00:11:35,300 --> 00:11:38,400 biases. Verse 72. 207 00:11:38,400 --> 00:11:41,800 Thus, he shows Mercy to his ancestors, or you can translate 208 00:11:41,800 --> 00:11:45,700 that to perform the mercy promised to our fathers, what 209 00:11:45,700 --> 00:11:48,600 Zechariah talking about here. The mercy promised to our 210 00:11:48,600 --> 00:11:50,200 fathers. He's about to explain it in 211 00:11:50,200 --> 00:11:54,100 verse 73 and 74. He says, he remembers His Holy 212 00:11:54,100 --> 00:11:58,300 Covenant, his oath, which he swore to Our Father, Abraham 213 00:11:58,600 --> 00:12:02,400 that he would grant us free from Fear, to be delivered from the 214 00:12:02,408 --> 00:12:05,900 hands of our enemies. So is that guy right here is 215 00:12:05,900 --> 00:12:09,600 talking about that abrahamic Covenant, he mentions Abraham 216 00:12:09,600 --> 00:12:14,200 specifically in the abrahamic. Covenant, basically God promises 217 00:12:14,200 --> 00:12:16,400 that he will raise up descendants of Abraham which we 218 00:12:16,400 --> 00:12:20,500 know of the Jews and he also promises that these Jews. 219 00:12:20,500 --> 00:12:24,300 The people of Abraham will be blessed and they will serve God 220 00:12:24,300 --> 00:12:26,400 as long as they keep his commandments. 221 00:12:27,100 --> 00:12:30,800 So that the covenant theology of the Old Testament basically says 222 00:12:30,800 --> 00:12:33,800 that God will bless the Jews as long as they. 223 00:12:34,400 --> 00:12:37,600 And serve him. Well and if they do that, he'll 224 00:12:37,600 --> 00:12:40,700 continue to provide a place for them to serve and worship him. 225 00:12:41,300 --> 00:12:44,400 The Jews in Jesus time. Continued to believe that this 226 00:12:44,400 --> 00:12:46,600 abrahamic Covenant was still in effect. 227 00:12:46,600 --> 00:12:49,900 They believed in Jesus time that if they continue to follow God's 228 00:12:49,900 --> 00:12:51,700 Commandments, he would save them. 229 00:12:52,000 --> 00:12:55,300 So, Zechariah ties this into the coming of the Messiah, he says 230 00:12:55,300 --> 00:12:58,900 the Messiah is coming, he's going to get rid of the Romans. 231 00:12:58,900 --> 00:13:01,800 He's going to once again, restore Israel to a place where 232 00:13:01,800 --> 00:13:05,800 it can worship God freely. And that's what Says in verse 75 233 00:13:05,800 --> 00:13:10,000 to serve him in Holiness and virtue in his presence or our 234 00:13:10,000 --> 00:13:13,900 days, another translation of this would be that we might 235 00:13:13,900 --> 00:13:17,200 serve him without fear in Holiness and righteousness 236 00:13:17,400 --> 00:13:21,300 before him, all the days of our life Zechariah is a righteous 237 00:13:21,300 --> 00:13:23,200 Jew. He is looking forward to these 238 00:13:23,200 --> 00:13:27,200 days when the Jews can once again, worship God in truth and 239 00:13:27,200 --> 00:13:30,600 in righteousness it was clear in both the Old Testament and in 240 00:13:30,600 --> 00:13:34,000 the New Testament as well the god protected the Jews. 241 00:13:34,400 --> 00:13:38,000 And he has a special place for them for the purpose that they 242 00:13:38,000 --> 00:13:40,500 would serve and honor him. He calls out a people for 243 00:13:40,500 --> 00:13:44,400 himself that they would serve and honor him and glorify him to 244 00:13:44,400 --> 00:13:47,600 the rest of the world. So, is Zechariah under the 245 00:13:47,600 --> 00:13:50,900 influence of the Holy Spirit, he knows the Messiah is coming, and 246 00:13:50,900 --> 00:13:54,300 he believes the Messiah has come to free the Jews from political 247 00:13:54,300 --> 00:13:58,400 oppression so that they might serve God in freedom without 248 00:13:58,400 --> 00:14:00,800 fear. That was something the Jews had 249 00:14:00,800 --> 00:14:03,200 not had for a long time. They'd been in captivity for a 250 00:14:03,208 --> 00:14:06,900 long time. And Zechariah now says, the time 251 00:14:06,900 --> 00:14:09,300 is coming when we can worship Him freely. 252 00:14:11,100 --> 00:14:14,100 Interestingly the name is Zechariah means, God has 253 00:14:14,100 --> 00:14:16,300 remembered. And also the name, Elizabeth 254 00:14:16,300 --> 00:14:19,400 means oath. And that's a very relevant here, 255 00:14:19,400 --> 00:14:21,000 isn't it? That's a very appropriate. 256 00:14:21,000 --> 00:14:23,300 Given what Zechariah has just been talking about? 257 00:14:23,300 --> 00:14:26,900 He says, God will remember his oath that he made to Abraham, so 258 00:14:26,900 --> 00:14:30,600 their names have significance. So that's the end of the first 259 00:14:30,600 --> 00:14:33,800 half of the Benedictus and now Zechariah changed his focus in 260 00:14:33,800 --> 00:14:36,900 verse 17. T6 he says and you little child, 261 00:14:37,400 --> 00:14:40,300 so now he's talking about his newborn son, John. 262 00:14:40,500 --> 00:14:43,600 That's the change of focus. He says you shall be called the 263 00:14:43,600 --> 00:14:48,100 prophet of the most high notice. It's not a prophet of the most 264 00:14:48,100 --> 00:14:50,700 high, you'll be called the prophet of the most high. 265 00:14:50,700 --> 00:14:52,400 That's quite an amazing title for John. 266 00:14:52,400 --> 00:14:56,000 The Baptist John was the final Prophet to prepare people for 267 00:14:56,000 --> 00:14:59,200 the arrival of God. He's the prophet of the most 268 00:14:59,200 --> 00:15:03,100 high, on the other hand, Jesus, the Messiah is called the son of 269 00:15:03,100 --> 00:15:05,500 the most high. So John the Baptist is the 270 00:15:05,508 --> 00:15:08,000 prophet of the most high. Jesus is the son of the most 271 00:15:08,000 --> 00:15:09,500 high. They both have a role to play 272 00:15:09,500 --> 00:15:12,600 but their different roles. So here's Zechariah, says to 273 00:15:12,600 --> 00:15:15,900 John, you will go before the Lord to prepare the way before 274 00:15:15,900 --> 00:15:18,600 him. So this imagery of preparing the 275 00:15:18,600 --> 00:15:21,800 way before God, it Taps into the imagery of a literally 276 00:15:22,100 --> 00:15:23,600 preparing, a highway for the king. 277 00:15:23,600 --> 00:15:27,000 So in the time of the Old Testament, when a king was 278 00:15:27,000 --> 00:15:29,600 coming into town, they would literally prepare the roads. 279 00:15:29,800 --> 00:15:32,600 They would almost bring out a red carpet for the Kings, so 280 00:15:33,200 --> 00:15:36,400 Isaiah has this Percy in chapter 40, verse 3. 281 00:15:36,500 --> 00:15:40,100 He says, prepare the way for the Lord, make straight his paths 282 00:15:40,300 --> 00:15:43,900 and in context that's about the arrival of God, his Isaiah is 283 00:15:43,900 --> 00:15:46,800 saying to the Jewish people, you need to prepare your lives in, 284 00:15:46,800 --> 00:15:49,600 need to prepare your cities because God is coming. 285 00:15:49,600 --> 00:15:52,600 You need to reform your lives. Then John the Baptist comes 286 00:15:52,600 --> 00:15:54,500 along and he quotes the exact same thing. 287 00:15:54,500 --> 00:15:57,400 You need to prepare the way for God, because he's coming in the 288 00:15:57,408 --> 00:16:00,600 person of the Messiah. So this is predicted in Isaiah 289 00:16:00,600 --> 00:16:02,600 chapter 40 and Malachi chapter 3. 290 00:16:02,900 --> 00:16:07,000 John, the Baptist knows that He is the Fulfillment, he himself. 291 00:16:07,000 --> 00:16:10,200 John the Baptist will fulfill. These prophecies about preparing 292 00:16:10,200 --> 00:16:14,100 the way for God here. Even before John, the Baptist is 293 00:16:14,100 --> 00:16:17,300 an adult Zechariah perceives, that one of the key roles of 294 00:16:17,300 --> 00:16:21,000 John, the Baptist will be to prepare the way for God. 295 00:16:22,500 --> 00:16:25,800 This is what Gabriel had said to Zechariah earlier in the temple. 296 00:16:25,800 --> 00:16:28,500 He says that one of the roles of John, the Baptist will be to 297 00:16:28,500 --> 00:16:32,300 prepare the people for the Messiah in facts that that's his 298 00:16:32,300 --> 00:16:35,800 key role to get people ready for the arrival of God in the person 299 00:16:35,800 --> 00:16:39,600 of the Messiah. Notice that Zacharias belief 300 00:16:39,600 --> 00:16:42,300 here is, the God himself is coming soon. 301 00:16:42,600 --> 00:16:44,400 You'll be the prophet of the most high. 302 00:16:44,600 --> 00:16:47,800 You will go before the Lord to prepare the way before him. 303 00:16:47,900 --> 00:16:50,900 Zechariah believes that John the Baptist is going before the 304 00:16:50,900 --> 00:16:53,900 Lord. This is a subtle hint that Jesus 305 00:16:53,900 --> 00:16:56,900 is God. Zechariah believes that John, 306 00:16:56,900 --> 00:16:59,500 the Baptist is preparing people for God specifically. 307 00:17:00,500 --> 00:17:04,300 Verse 77 to give his people knowledge of Salvation. 308 00:17:05,099 --> 00:17:07,900 So the key aim of John, the Baptist's Ministry was to get 309 00:17:07,900 --> 00:17:11,700 people to repent and to help them realize what's required in 310 00:17:11,700 --> 00:17:15,099 order to be saved. Zechariah says John the Baptist 311 00:17:15,099 --> 00:17:17,700 will give his people knowledge of Salvation. 312 00:17:17,700 --> 00:17:20,000 He's going to help people understand what's required for 313 00:17:20,000 --> 00:17:24,099 salvation, namely repentance and then he adds this bit of 314 00:17:24,099 --> 00:17:27,300 information he says in the Forgiveness of their sins. 315 00:17:28,400 --> 00:17:31,000 From this verse, some people have taken it to mean that John 316 00:17:31,000 --> 00:17:33,500 the Baptist will literally forgive people sins. 317 00:17:33,900 --> 00:17:36,900 That seems to be what Zechariah says he will give his people 318 00:17:36,900 --> 00:17:40,200 knowledge of Salvation in the Forgiveness of their sins. 319 00:17:41,100 --> 00:17:43,800 Other Scholars would say that's not the best interpretation. 320 00:17:43,800 --> 00:17:47,700 It's probably not likely that John, the Baptist himself was 321 00:17:47,800 --> 00:17:51,300 able to forgive sins. Probably what it means here and 322 00:17:51,300 --> 00:17:52,700 this is consistent with other things. 323 00:17:52,700 --> 00:17:55,900 That happened later in John's Ministry, the passage is 324 00:17:55,900 --> 00:17:59,900 teaching that John's message. Will help people realize that 325 00:17:59,900 --> 00:18:02,900 they need to have their sins forgiven in order to be saved. 326 00:18:03,000 --> 00:18:06,300 John the Baptist prepares people to realize that they need their 327 00:18:06,300 --> 00:18:09,200 sins forgiven and when they come to the River, Jordan to be 328 00:18:09,200 --> 00:18:11,700 baptized. They confess their sins in 329 00:18:11,700 --> 00:18:13,400 preparation for having their sins. 330 00:18:13,400 --> 00:18:17,400 Actually, forgiven by God, verse 7th, through the tender, mercy 331 00:18:17,400 --> 00:18:20,000 of our God. So Zechariah is saying that 332 00:18:20,000 --> 00:18:23,300 John's ministry will be given as a result of God's mercy. 333 00:18:24,400 --> 00:18:27,100 God is showing people how they can be saved through John, the 334 00:18:27,100 --> 00:18:29,900 Baptist minister Re even though they don't necessarily deserve 335 00:18:29,900 --> 00:18:33,100 it through the tender mercy of our God, it's quite a beautiful 336 00:18:33,100 --> 00:18:37,100 phrase who from on high will bring the Rising Sun to visit 337 00:18:37,100 --> 00:18:39,400 us. Now this is a phrase that can be 338 00:18:39,400 --> 00:18:41,700 translated different ways. It's one of those parts of the 339 00:18:41,700 --> 00:18:43,900 New Testament. That's a bit unclear, different 340 00:18:43,900 --> 00:18:45,800 manuscripts have this written different ways. 341 00:18:46,100 --> 00:18:49,600 So our dictionary translation. Here sir has Zachariah saying 342 00:18:50,000 --> 00:18:53,900 who from on high will bring the Rising Sun to visit us other 343 00:18:53,900 --> 00:18:57,200 translations put it this way when the day she'll Dawn upon us 344 00:18:57,600 --> 00:19:02,100 Or whereby the Dayspring will visit or since the Dayspring has 345 00:19:02,100 --> 00:19:04,200 visited, so it has this, I'd the Greek. 346 00:19:04,200 --> 00:19:07,800 He has this idea of a day spring or the Sun or something like 347 00:19:07,800 --> 00:19:13,100 that in any case, it seems to convey this idea of the new day 348 00:19:13,100 --> 00:19:15,300 of blessing and Revelation is coming. 349 00:19:15,400 --> 00:19:18,600 That seems to be what Zechariah is saying, who from on high will 350 00:19:18,600 --> 00:19:20,800 bring a new day of blessing and Revelation. 351 00:19:20,800 --> 00:19:23,900 It is coming. Some Scholars think that 352 00:19:23,900 --> 00:19:26,500 Zechariah he might also be tapping into Messianic 353 00:19:26,500 --> 00:19:30,100 prophecies in the Old Testament, which describe the rising of the 354 00:19:30,100 --> 00:19:33,300 sun of justice. And so if you look at Isaiah 355 00:19:33,300 --> 00:19:38,800 9:2, Malachi 4:2, uses this language of the Rising Sun, Also 356 00:19:38,800 --> 00:19:42,400 numbers 24:17 points in that direction as well. 357 00:19:43,000 --> 00:19:45,400 And other Scholars, think that he's referring to a different 358 00:19:45,400 --> 00:19:50,700 set of Old Testament passages like Jeremiah 23:5, and 359 00:19:50,800 --> 00:19:54,400 Zechariah Chapter 3 Verse. Date, which described the 360 00:19:54,400 --> 00:19:57,200 Messiah as the branch. Remember how in the Old 361 00:19:57,200 --> 00:20:00,800 Testament describes the Messiah as a branch, that will Sprout 362 00:20:00,800 --> 00:20:03,600 from the stock of David. And if you read the Greek Old 363 00:20:03,600 --> 00:20:06,500 Testament in these passages, which talked about the Messiah, 364 00:20:06,900 --> 00:20:11,300 being a branch or a shoot, the word rise is used the Messiah 365 00:20:11,300 --> 00:20:14,000 will rise. So maybe Zechariah here is 366 00:20:14,000 --> 00:20:17,400 combining all of these Old Testament prophecies to describe 367 00:20:18,100 --> 00:20:22,100 the the day rising or the Dayspring arising as the time of 368 00:20:22,100 --> 00:20:24,200 the full. Moment when the Messiah will 369 00:20:24,200 --> 00:20:28,600 arise, something like that verse 79 to give light to those who 370 00:20:28,600 --> 00:20:31,200 sit in darkness and in the shadow of death. 371 00:20:32,600 --> 00:20:34,800 Who are the people who sit in darkness and the shadow of 372 00:20:34,800 --> 00:20:36,600 death. It's probably a reference to 373 00:20:36,600 --> 00:20:39,500 people who work in sin who were not in God's favor than not 374 00:20:39,500 --> 00:20:41,100 living, according to God's Commandments. 375 00:20:41,600 --> 00:20:45,600 Clearly he is a Karai is quoting from Isaiah chapter 9 verse 1 376 00:20:45,600 --> 00:20:48,600 which says this. Oh you people who walk in 377 00:20:48,600 --> 00:20:52,100 darkness and in the shadow of death light will shine on you. 378 00:20:52,900 --> 00:20:55,500 In the context of Isaiah he's prophesying that there will be a 379 00:20:55,508 --> 00:20:57,300 messiah. That will save the people 380 00:20:57,900 --> 00:20:59,700 Zechariah now quotes from Isaiah. 381 00:20:59,900 --> 00:21:02,300 He believes, it's fulfilled. He thinks that John's men. 382 00:21:02,500 --> 00:21:05,600 Mystery John, the Baptist will bring Salvation to many people 383 00:21:05,600 --> 00:21:09,200 by making them aware of their sin and causing them to repent 384 00:21:09,200 --> 00:21:12,600 and follow God. And he knows that Jesus, the 385 00:21:12,600 --> 00:21:14,400 Messiah will continue this ministry. 386 00:21:14,800 --> 00:21:19,900 In fact, that Isaiah passage 9:5 goes on to describe the birth of 387 00:21:19,900 --> 00:21:23,700 the child as someone who's going to bring, who will be the Prince 388 00:21:23,700 --> 00:21:26,000 of Peace, who will shine his light on people. 389 00:21:26,400 --> 00:21:29,800 So all through here, Zechariah is quoting from Isaiah, chapter 390 00:21:29,800 --> 00:21:34,200 9, particularly he continues, he says to guide our feet into the 391 00:21:34,200 --> 00:21:36,600 way of Peace. So This is a common Jewish 392 00:21:36,600 --> 00:21:38,500 metaphor. It's a Jewish way of describing 393 00:21:38,500 --> 00:21:42,300 being in communion with God, by following his It's God, will 394 00:21:42,300 --> 00:21:44,100 guide their feet in the way of peace. 395 00:21:45,400 --> 00:21:47,500 John the Baptist and Jesus will help the Jews. 396 00:21:47,500 --> 00:21:49,500 Do that. He'll guide the people in the 397 00:21:49,500 --> 00:21:52,600 way of Peace who bring their bring people to God. 398 00:21:53,700 --> 00:21:56,800 Some Scholars, think the fact that Zacharias final words here 399 00:21:56,800 --> 00:21:59,800 that has just spoken include the word, shine and peace. 400 00:21:59,800 --> 00:22:01,300 Both of those words showed up there. 401 00:22:02,000 --> 00:22:05,000 Maybe that's significant some Scholars noticed a connection 402 00:22:05,000 --> 00:22:07,100 here with Aaron's Priestly blessing. 403 00:22:07,100 --> 00:22:10,600 If you go to Numbers Chapter 6 this is the blessing that Aaron 404 00:22:10,600 --> 00:22:13,600 gives to the people. The Lord bless you and keep you 405 00:22:13,800 --> 00:22:17,200 the Lord, let his face shine upon you and be gracious to you. 406 00:22:17,600 --> 00:22:20,500 The Lord, look upon you kindly and give you peace. 407 00:22:20,800 --> 00:22:23,900 That blessing is probably familiar to many of you That's 408 00:22:23,900 --> 00:22:26,300 Aaron's blessing in Numbers Chapter 6 that he gives the 409 00:22:26,300 --> 00:22:28,100 people. It's also the blessing that 410 00:22:28,100 --> 00:22:31,000 Zechariah was supposed to give when he came out of the temple 411 00:22:31,000 --> 00:22:32,600 when he was on duty, as a priest. 412 00:22:32,900 --> 00:22:36,100 Remember how he struck dumb when he's in the Holy the holy place. 413 00:22:36,500 --> 00:22:39,000 And when he comes out, he's supposed to bless the people 414 00:22:39,400 --> 00:22:41,200 with that prayer, but he struck dumb. 415 00:22:41,500 --> 00:22:45,000 So some Scholars think that the fact that he ends the Benedictus 416 00:22:45,000 --> 00:22:47,100 here with the words shine and peace. 417 00:22:47,600 --> 00:22:49,800 Both of those words in the aaronic blessing. 418 00:22:49,800 --> 00:22:53,300 So maybe his finishing the blessing that he was unable to. 419 00:22:53,400 --> 00:22:55,100 You earlier, which is really interesting. 420 00:22:56,300 --> 00:22:58,000 So that's all he has to say here. 421 00:22:59,200 --> 00:23:02,000 We're also going to look at verse 80 because verse 8 e is 422 00:23:02,000 --> 00:23:05,300 the final verse in chapter 1. It's a good way of finishing off 423 00:23:05,300 --> 00:23:08,500 the chapter. So verse 8, he says, meanwhile 424 00:23:08,500 --> 00:23:12,100 the child grew up and his Spirit matured and he lived out in the 425 00:23:12,100 --> 00:23:14,800 wilderness until the day he appeared to Israel. 426 00:23:16,100 --> 00:23:18,600 So let's start at the, with the first phrase here. 427 00:23:18,600 --> 00:23:22,400 Meanwhile, the child grew up and his Spirit matured, a similar 428 00:23:22,400 --> 00:23:24,800 comment is made about Samson in the Old Testament. 429 00:23:24,800 --> 00:23:27,500 If you look at Judges chapter 13, it says the same about 430 00:23:27,500 --> 00:23:29,800 Samson. In fact, The same thing is said 431 00:23:29,800 --> 00:23:34,100 about Jesus later on, it says the Jesus matured more literally 432 00:23:34,100 --> 00:23:37,900 what it says here is that the child became strong in spirit, 433 00:23:38,200 --> 00:23:40,600 which probably means it's talking about John, the Baptist 434 00:23:40,600 --> 00:23:43,300 here, it means that John the Baptist became quite a spiritual 435 00:23:43,300 --> 00:23:45,800 person, this is Luke narrating here. 436 00:23:45,800 --> 00:23:49,000 He says that John, the Baptist grew up and his Spirit matured. 437 00:23:49,000 --> 00:23:50,700 He became quite a spiritual person. 438 00:23:51,800 --> 00:23:54,400 Luke then says he lived out in the wilderness. 439 00:23:55,400 --> 00:23:58,700 So, John, the Baptist spent most of your time, if his time in the 440 00:23:58,700 --> 00:24:01,600 wilderness of perea, which is to the east of Judea. 441 00:24:01,600 --> 00:24:04,700 If you look at a map, he doesn't spend most of his time in 442 00:24:04,700 --> 00:24:07,800 Jerusalem, where his parents live, his parents live in a 443 00:24:07,800 --> 00:24:10,000 village just outside of Jerusalem, but John the Baptist 444 00:24:10,000 --> 00:24:13,300 doesn't grow up there. He lives in the wilderness of 445 00:24:13,300 --> 00:24:15,800 perea. Why does John the Baptist go out 446 00:24:15,800 --> 00:24:17,300 into the Wilderness? Why not? 447 00:24:17,300 --> 00:24:20,200 Just stay in the vicinity of Jerusalem. 448 00:24:20,500 --> 00:24:24,100 There's two main theories about why John the Baptist grows up 449 00:24:24,400 --> 00:24:25,800 and spends. The most of his time in the 450 00:24:25,808 --> 00:24:29,500 wilderness, one theory, is that the Holy Spirit, led him to the 451 00:24:29,500 --> 00:24:32,000 Wilderness? As a young man, he was inspired 452 00:24:32,100 --> 00:24:34,600 to go out into the Wilderness himself and that would certainly 453 00:24:34,600 --> 00:24:36,900 make sense. There's another theory which is 454 00:24:36,900 --> 00:24:39,500 more interesting, which could be right. 455 00:24:39,500 --> 00:24:42,600 We're not sure. But this Theory says, that his 456 00:24:42,600 --> 00:24:45,800 parents Zechariah and Elizabeth were too old to look after him 457 00:24:45,800 --> 00:24:47,800 and we know that they're quite advanced in age. 458 00:24:48,200 --> 00:24:51,800 So maybe what happens is as they got too old to look after him, 459 00:24:51,800 --> 00:24:55,500 they sent him out to the scn community at qumran, A group of 460 00:24:55,500 --> 00:24:59,600 monks out there called The Essence and maybe they sent 461 00:24:59,700 --> 00:25:02,400 Zachariah out there because they know this is a Korea, has a 462 00:25:02,400 --> 00:25:05,500 particular role in being holy and bringing people to God. 463 00:25:05,800 --> 00:25:09,500 Maybe they figure that a good place to send him to grow up is 464 00:25:09,500 --> 00:25:12,700 the scn community at qumran. This is the group that writes, 465 00:25:12,700 --> 00:25:15,800 the Dead Sea Scrolls. There's a lot of interesting 466 00:25:15,800 --> 00:25:18,700 evidence that suggests that John the Baptist might have actually 467 00:25:18,700 --> 00:25:21,600 been in a scene. He might have spent time in this 468 00:25:21,600 --> 00:25:24,300 community. The gospels don't say this but 469 00:25:24,300 --> 00:25:25,700 there's a few things. Things that point in this 470 00:25:25,700 --> 00:25:29,000 direction. For example, the Wilderness of 471 00:25:29,000 --> 00:25:32,500 Korea where he ministers is very close to qumran. 472 00:25:33,100 --> 00:25:37,100 Also John the Baptist focuses on a baptism of repentance the 473 00:25:37,100 --> 00:25:38,800 essence focused on the same thing. 474 00:25:39,200 --> 00:25:42,600 Also, his diet is very similar to what the essence 8. 475 00:25:42,900 --> 00:25:46,500 And also, later on John, the Baptist will call the Pharisees, 476 00:25:46,500 --> 00:25:49,400 a brood of vipers. Turns out. 477 00:25:49,400 --> 00:25:53,800 The essence, had a very similar phrase for the Pharisees Also, 478 00:25:53,800 --> 00:25:57,500 John the Baptist himself interprets, this phrase, a voice 479 00:25:57,500 --> 00:26:00,800 cries in the wilderness, which is from Isaiah John. 480 00:26:00,800 --> 00:26:03,800 The Baptist interprets this to be about a call to spiritual 481 00:26:03,800 --> 00:26:06,500 preparation. The essence also interpreted the 482 00:26:06,500 --> 00:26:10,100 text in the same way. So some Scholars think that John 483 00:26:10,100 --> 00:26:12,900 the Baptist was very much influenced by the essence and he 484 00:26:12,900 --> 00:26:16,300 grew up with them before he left the community to do his own 485 00:26:16,300 --> 00:26:18,200 Ministry out of the River. Jordan. 486 00:26:18,200 --> 00:26:20,900 It's a very interesting Theory and if you want to look into 487 00:26:20,900 --> 00:26:22,800 this a bit more the best book on this would be too. 488 00:26:23,000 --> 00:26:26,800 Jesus and the Dead Sea Scrolls by John bergsma, which brings 489 00:26:26,800 --> 00:26:29,500 together all of these different bits of evidence. 490 00:26:29,500 --> 00:26:32,300 That might suggest that John. The Baptist wasn't essien. 491 00:26:32,300 --> 00:26:35,900 It's quite interesting. Then Luke says until the day, he 492 00:26:35,900 --> 00:26:38,500 appeared to Israel. So John the Baptist spent time 493 00:26:38,500 --> 00:26:41,100 in the wilderness before he appeared to Israel, which is 494 00:26:41,100 --> 00:26:43,300 interesting. So, apparently when John was 495 00:26:43,300 --> 00:26:46,700 about 30 years old, which was the age when you could start 496 00:26:46,700 --> 00:26:49,700 public Ministry, that's the point at which he began. 497 00:26:49,700 --> 00:26:53,100 Preaching out in the wilderness near the river, Jordan, and We 498 00:26:53,100 --> 00:26:56,000 know that many people flocked to him to hear him preach and to be 499 00:26:56,000 --> 00:26:59,200 baptized. So that's the end of Luke 500 00:26:59,200 --> 00:27:04,700 chapter 1, the next part of Luke, Luke 2:1-20, this recounts 501 00:27:04,800 --> 00:27:07,800 the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem that famous passage. 502 00:27:07,800 --> 00:27:10,800 When they, they take the donkey to Bethlehem and he's born in a 503 00:27:10,808 --> 00:27:14,500 stable, you won't get to hear that passage read at the normal 504 00:27:14,500 --> 00:27:18,100 Christmas Day Mass, but you can hear the first part of Luke 505 00:27:18,100 --> 00:27:21,100 Chapter 2 at the Christmas midnight mass, that's when 506 00:27:21,100 --> 00:27:23,300 that's red. And then the second part of Luke 507 00:27:23,300 --> 00:27:27,900 Chapter, 20 verses 15 to 20. That's a red at the dawn Mass, a 508 00:27:28,400 --> 00:27:31,100 So, if you want to hear an exegesis on that first part of 509 00:27:31,100 --> 00:27:34,700 Luke, Chapter 2, you won't hear it through the regular podcast, 510 00:27:34,700 --> 00:27:37,700 but you can hear them as bonus episodes of the podcast. 511 00:27:37,700 --> 00:27:40,800 Through the patreon page, will go through those famous 512 00:27:40,800 --> 00:27:43,500 Bethlehem scenes and the birth of Jesus will go through that, 513 00:27:43,700 --> 00:27:47,300 through that verse, by verse as bonus episodes of the podcast. 514 00:27:47,800 --> 00:27:50,800 Let's now, turn to the catechism to see what it has to say about 515 00:27:51,000 --> 00:27:53,400 this passage here. Zechariah's famous Benedictus, 516 00:27:53,900 --> 00:27:55,300 there's a few brief references here. 517 00:27:55,300 --> 00:27:57,800 So paragraph, 4, 2, 2 s, which is in the section. 518 00:27:58,000 --> 00:28:01,800 About the good news, God has visited his people, he has 519 00:28:01,800 --> 00:28:05,000 fulfilled the promise he made to Abraham and his descendants. 520 00:28:05,300 --> 00:28:07,700 He acted far beyond all expectation. 521 00:28:07,800 --> 00:28:12,200 He sent his own beloved Son. So there, the catechism Echo is 522 00:28:12,200 --> 00:28:15,200 this similar themes of God. Visiting his people, which is 523 00:28:15,200 --> 00:28:18,400 what exactly what Zechariah said paragraph seven. 524 00:28:18,400 --> 00:28:22,100 One seven is about John, the Baptist says Mary's visitation 525 00:28:22,100 --> 00:28:25,800 to Elizabeth thus became a visit from God to his people. 526 00:28:26,400 --> 00:28:30,200 So Zechariah he mentioned Out the arrival of the Messiah is 527 00:28:30,200 --> 00:28:33,200 God, visiting his people and hear the catechism says that 528 00:28:33,200 --> 00:28:35,600 when Mary visits Elizabeth which was earlier in. 529 00:28:35,600 --> 00:28:37,700 Luke chapter 1, it's in a very real sense. 530 00:28:37,700 --> 00:28:41,300 It's God, visiting his people as Jesus in the womb visits 531 00:28:41,400 --> 00:28:46,000 Elizabeth and John the Baptist paragraph 5 to 3 says Saint 532 00:28:46,000 --> 00:28:47,200 John. The Baptist is the Lord's 533 00:28:47,200 --> 00:28:50,900 immediate precursor or Forerunner sent to repair his 534 00:28:50,900 --> 00:28:55,000 way prophet of the most high John surpasses, all the profits 535 00:28:55,000 --> 00:28:57,900 of whom he is the last. So there we have. 536 00:28:58,000 --> 00:29:00,400 A very clear Catholic teaching that John, the Baptist is the 537 00:29:00,408 --> 00:29:03,000 greatest prophet, he is the last and greatest. 538 00:29:03,700 --> 00:29:07,900 Lastly paragraph. 706 says against all human, hope God 539 00:29:07,900 --> 00:29:11,700 promises descendants to Abraham as the fruit of faith and the 540 00:29:11,700 --> 00:29:15,500 power of the holy spirit in Abraham's progeny, all the 541 00:29:15,500 --> 00:29:17,300 nations of the earth will be blessed. 542 00:29:17,600 --> 00:29:19,900 This progeny will be Christ himself. 543 00:29:21,000 --> 00:29:24,500 So, the link there, of course, is to Abraham zechariah's. 544 00:29:24,500 --> 00:29:27,400 Benedict is talked about Abraham and the catechism picks up on 545 00:29:27,400 --> 00:29:31,000 that theme of The blessing which is fulfilled, which was 546 00:29:31,000 --> 00:29:33,500 originally given to Abraham, but it's fulfilled in Christ. 547 00:29:34,400 --> 00:29:36,300 So thanks for listening to today's episode. 548 00:29:36,300 --> 00:29:39,000 Just a quick note about tomorrow's episode for Christmas 549 00:29:39,000 --> 00:29:41,900 day. What you'll hear is an exegesis 550 00:29:42,000 --> 00:29:45,500 of the reading which is read at the normal Christmas Day Mass. 551 00:29:45,800 --> 00:29:48,200 So that's what we'll go through. In tomorrow's episode, it's the 552 00:29:48,600 --> 00:29:51,900 standard reading for the daytime Christmas Day Mass. 553 00:29:51,900 --> 00:29:54,200 So if you go to a different Christmas Mass, so if you go to 554 00:29:54,200 --> 00:29:58,400 the midnight mass, perhaps or even the massive Dawn, You won't 555 00:29:58,400 --> 00:30:01,500 get to hear an exegesis of those tomorrow, but you can hear them 556 00:30:01,500 --> 00:30:05,000 as bonus episodes of the podcast through the patreon page. 557 00:30:05,400 --> 00:30:08,300 Thank you so much again for your support of this ministry. 558 00:30:08,500 --> 00:30:11,500 Particularly around Christmas time, I would ask you to 559 00:30:11,500 --> 00:30:14,100 prayerfully consider giving a financial gift to the ministry 560 00:30:14,100 --> 00:30:16,800 or becoming a financial partner of the ministry to help it, keep 561 00:30:16,800 --> 00:30:20,900 doing what it's doing and to make even more projects and 562 00:30:20,900 --> 00:30:23,400 helping Catholics understand their Bible better, that's what 563 00:30:23,400 --> 00:30:25,800 we're all about. So if you want more information 564 00:30:25,800 --> 00:30:28,400 about how you can become a supporter of the ministry, And 565 00:30:28,400 --> 00:30:32,600 the exclusive bonus things you can get access to have a look at 566 00:30:32,600 --> 00:30:35,800 the patreon page and the link for that is in the show notes 567 00:30:36,500 --> 00:30:38,300 from me. I hope you have a really blessed 568 00:30:38,300 --> 00:30:41,900 Christmas day tomorrow and that you're able to spend some time 569 00:30:42,100 --> 00:30:45,600 in God's word. Getting to know God better and 570 00:30:45,600 --> 00:30:48,800 the amazing gift that he's given us in his son Jesus.