Christmas Eve

Today's Readings

Zechariah's Song
(The Benedictus)
Luke 1:68-79, The Voice Translation

"May the Lord God of Israel be blessed indeed!

        For God’s intervention has begun,

        and He has moved to rescue us, the people of God.

    And the Lord has raised up a powerful sign of liberation for us

        from among the descendants of God’s servant, King David.

    As was prophesied through the mouths of His holy prophets in ancient times:

    God will liberate us from our enemies

        and from the hand of our oppressors!

    God will show mercy promised to our ancestors,

        upholding the abiding covenant He made with them,

    Remembering the original vow He swore to Abraham,

        from whom we are all descended.

    God will rescue us from the grasp of our enemies

        so that we may serve Him without fear all our days

    In holiness and justice, in the presence of the Lord.

    And you, my son, will be called the prophet of the Most High.

        For you will be the one to prepare the way for the Lord

    So that the Lord’s people will receive knowledge of their freedom

        through the forgiveness of their sins.

    All this will flow from the kind and compassionate mercy of our God.

        A new day is dawning:

        the Sunrise from the heavens will break through in our darkness,

    And those who huddle in night,

        those who sit in the shadow of death,

    Will be able to rise and walk in the light,

        guided in the pathway of peace."