The prophecy of the holy Prophet Malachi foretold the coming of the Messiah’s Forerunner before His birth, signaling the anticipation of the Messiah among the Jews.
In the hills of Judea in Palestine, the righteous priest Saint Zachariah and his wife Saint Elizabeth lived devoutly, but were sorrowful due to their inability to conceive a child in their old age. They fervently prayed to God for a child.
During his priestly duties at the Temple in Jerusalem, Saint Zachariah encountered an angel of God who announced that Elizabeth would bear a son named John. Despite Zachariah’s initial disbelief, the angel, Gabriel, rendered him speechless until the prophecy came to fruition.
Upon Zachariah’s delayed return from the Sanctuary, the people realized he had experienced a divine vision, leading to the eventual birth of John, the Forerunner of the Lord, fulfilling the prophecy and granting Elizabeth a child.
This miraculous event occurred before the birth of Christ, as foretold by the Archangel Gabriel to Zachariah during the feast of the Tabernacles. The wisdom and mercy of God were evident in fulfilling the prayers of Zachariah and Elizabeth for a child, culminating in the birth of John, who would play a crucial role in preparing the way for Christ.
Today, we celebrate the mercy, miracles, and wisdom of God in granting John to his devout parents, illustrating His power to perform miracles beyond natural law for those He has special intentions for. Let us marvel at the divine power, mercy, and wisdom displayed in the birth of John, a testament to God’s sovereignty over all creation.