December 19, 2014 Friday of the Third Week of Advent

Reading 1

There was a
certain man from Zorah, of the clan of the Danites, whose name was Manoah. His
wife was barren and had borne no children. An angel of the LORD appeared to the
woman and said to her, Though you are barren and have had no children, yet you
will conceive and bear a son.

Now, then, be
careful to take no wine or strong drink and to eat nothing unclean. As for the
son you will conceive and bear, no razor shall touch his head, for this boy is
to be consecrated to God from the womb. It is he who will begin the deliverance
of Israel from the power of the Philistines.”

The woman
went and told her husband, A man of God came to me he had the appearance of
an angel of God, terrible indeed. I did not ask him where he came from, nor did
he tell me his name. But he said to me, ‘You will be with child and will bear a
son. So take neither wine nor strong drink, and eat nothing unclean. For the
boy shall be consecrated to God from the womb, until the day of his death.’”

The woman
bore a son and named him Samson. The boy grew up and the LORD blessed him the
Spirit of the LORD stirred him.

Responsorial Psalm

R. My mouth
shall be filled with your praise, and I will sing your glory!

Be my rock of
refuge, a stronghold to give me safety, for you are my rock and my fortress. O
my God, rescue me from the hand of the wicked.

R. My mouth
shall be filled with your praise, and I will sing your glory!

For you are
my hope, O LORD my trust, O God, from my youth. On you I depend from birth from
my mother’s womb you are my strength.

R. My mouth
shall be filled with your praise, and I will sing your glory!

I will treat
of the mighty works of the LORD O God, I will tell of your singular justice. O
God, you have taught me from my youth, and till the present I proclaim your
wondrous deeds.

R. My mouth
shall be filled with your praise, and I will sing your glory!

Gospel Lk
1and5-25

In the days
of Herod, King of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah of the priestly
division of Abijah his wife was from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was
Elizabeth.

Both were
righteous in the eyes of God, observing all the commandments and ordinances of
the Lord lamelessly. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren and
both were advanced in years.

Once when he
was serving as priest in his division’s turn before God, according to the
practice of the priestly service, he was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary
of the Lord to burn incense. Then, when the whole assembly of the people was
praying outside at the hour of the incense offering, the angel of the Lord
appeared to him, standing at the right of the altar of incense. Zechariah was
troubled by what he saw, and fear came upon him.

But the angel
said to him, Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your
wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall name him John. And you will
have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great
in the sight of the Lord. He will drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will
be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb, and he will turn
many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God.

He will go
before him in the spirit and power of Elijah to turn the hearts of fathers
toward children and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous, to
prepare a people fit for the Lord.”

Then
Zechariah said to the angel, How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and
my wife is advanced in years.” And the angel said to him in reply, I am
Gabriel, who stand before God. I was sent to speak to you and to announce to
you this good news. But now you will be speechless and unable to talk until the
day these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will
be fulfilled at their proper time.”

Meanwhile the
people were waiting for Zechariah and were amazed that he stayed so long in the
sanctuary. But when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they
realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He was gesturing to them
but remained mute.

Then, when
his days of ministry were completed, he went home.

After this
time his wife Elizabeth conceived, and she went into seclusion for five months,
saying, So has the Lord done for me at a time when he has seen fit to take
away my disgrace before others.”