Happy Easter, everyone!

I wanted to share this beautiful passage from the Gospel of Saint Luke, known as The Canticle of Zechariah, The Song of Zechariah, or simply The Benedictus — taken from the first word of the Canticle in Latin (“Benedictus Dominus Deus Israel”, “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel”).

The Benedictus is sung by the priest, Zechariah, in celebration of the circumcision of his son, John the Baptist. It serves as a brief recalling of God’s covenant history with the Israelite people, an expression of joy that this covenant is being fulfilled, and a prophesy about John the Baptist’s role in what is to come — Jesus Christ bringing salvation to the world.

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Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel;
he has come to his people and set them free.

He has raised up for us a mighty savior,
born of the house of his servant David.

Through his holy prophets he promised of old that he would save us from our enemies,
from the hands of all who hate us.

He promised to show mercy to our fathers
and to remember his holy covenant.

This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham:
to set us free from the hands of our enemies,
free to worship him without fear,
holy and righteous in his sight
all the days of our life.

You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High;
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,
to give his people knowledge of salvation
by the forgiveness of their sins.

In the tender compassion of our God
the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death,
and to guide our feet into the way of peace.

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While this prophecy is directed towards John the Baptist,
it is simultaneously directed towards each and every Christian.

We are all called to be prophets of the Most High;
to give God’s people the good news of their salvation through Jesus Christ.

And that’s exactly what we celebrate today:
the day that Christ conquered sin and death on our behalf,
and flung open the gates of Heaven to us,
despite all of our faults, and our flaws, and our sins.

In the tender compassion of our God,
the Dawn from on high has broken upon us,
to shine on all of us, who have dwelt in darkness,
and to guide us onto the path of peace and salvation.

Viva Cristo Rey!

Long Live Christ The King!