Wayne A. Meeks, “Assisting the Word by Making (Up) History: Luke’s Project and Ours,” Interpretation (April 2003), p. 152-156
“Assisting the Word by Making (Up) History: Luke’s Project and Ours”
1-4 Acts 1:1-2
1 Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things which have been accomplished among us, 2 just as they were delivered to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word, 3 it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 that you may know the truth concerning the things of which you have been informed.
1:1 επειδηπερ πολλοι επεχειρησαν αναταξασθαι διηγησιν περι των πεπληροφορημενων εν ημιν πραγματων 1:2 καθως παρεδοσαν ημιν οι απ αρχης αυτοπται και υπηρεται γενομενοι του λογου 1:3 εδοξεν καμοι παρηκολουθηκοτι ανωθεν πασιν ακριβως καθεξης σοι γραψαι κρατιστε θεοφιλε 1:4 ινα επιγνως περι ων κατηχηθης λογων την ασφαλειαν
15 Numbers 6:3
17 Malachi 4:5-6; Luke 1:35
19 Daniel 8:16, 9:21
21-22 Luke 24:50-51
22 Ernest Hello, Life Together, p. 78
5 In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah; and he had a wife of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. 7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years.
8 Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, 9 according to the custom of the priesthood, it fell to him by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. 11 And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12 And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him.13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer is heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. 14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth; 15 for he will be great before the Lord, and he shall drink no wine nor strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. 16 And he will turn many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God, 17 and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.” 18 And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” 19 And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel, who stand in the presence of God; and I was sent to speak to you, and to bring you this good news. 20 And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things come to pass, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.”
21 And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they wondered at his delay in the temple. 22 And when he came out, he could not speak to them, and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple; and he made signs to them and remained dumb. 23 And when his time of service was ended, he went to his home.
24 After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she hid herself, saying, 25 “Thus the Lord has done to me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.”
1:5 εγενετο εν ταις ημεραις ηρωδου του βασιλεως της ιουδαιας ιερευς τις ονοματι ζαχαριας εξ εφημεριας αβια και η γυνη αυτου εκ των θυγατερων ααρων και το ονομα αυτης ελισαβετ 1:6 ησαν δε δικαιοι αμφοτεροι ενωπιον του θεου πορευομενοι εν πασαις ταις εντολαις και δικαιωμασιν του κυριου αμεμπτοι 1:7 και ουκ ην αυτοις τεκνον καθοτι η ελισαβετ ην στειρα και αμφοτεροι προβεβηκοτες εν ταις ημεραις αυτων ησαν
1:8 εγενετο δε εν τω ιερατευειν αυτον εν τη ταξει της εφημεριας αυτου εναντι του θεου 1:9 κατα το εθος της ιερατειας ελαχεν του θυμιασαι εισελθων εις τον ναον του κυριου 1:10 και παν το πληθος ην του λαου προσευχομενον εξω τη ωρα του θυμιαματος 1:11 ωφθη δε αυτω αγγελος κυριου εστως εκ δεξιων του θυσιαστηριου του θυμιαματος 1:12 και εταραχθη ζαχαριας ιδων και φοβος επεπεσεν επ αυτον 1:13 ειπεν δε προς αυτον ο αγγελος μη φοβου ζαχαρια διοτι εισηκουσθη η δεησις σου και η γυνη σου ελισαβετ γεννησει υιον σοι και καλεσεις το ονομα αυτου ιωαννην 1:14 και εσται χαρα σοι και αγαλλιασις και πολλοι επι τη γεννησει αυτου χαρησονται 1:15 εσται γαρ μεγας ενωπιον [του] κυριου και οινον και σικερα ου μη πιη και πνευματος αγιου πλησθησεται ετι εκ κοιλιας μητρος αυτου 1:16 και πολλους των υιων ισραηλ επιστρεψει επι κυριον τον θεον αυτων 1:17 και αυτος προελευσεται ενωπιον αυτου εν πνευματι και δυναμει ηλιου επιστρεψαι καρδιας πατερων επι τεκνα και απειθεις εν φρονησει δικαιων ετοιμασαι κυριω λαον κατεσκευασμενον 1:18 και ειπεν ζαχαριας προς τον αγγελον κατα τι γνωσομαι τουτο εγω γαρ ειμι πρεσβυτης και η γυνη μου προβεβηκυια εν ταις ημεραις αυτης 1:19 και αποκριθεις ο αγγελος ειπεν αυτω εγω ειμι γαβριηλ ο παρεστηκως ενωπιον του θεου και απεσταλην λαλησαι προς σε και ευαγγελισασθαι σοι ταυτα 1:20 και ιδου εση σιωπων και μη δυναμενος λαλησαι αχρι ης ημερας γενηται ταυτα ανθ ων ουκ επιστευσας τοις λογοις μου οιτινες πληρωθησονται εις τον καιρον αυτων
1:21 και ην ο λαος προσδοκων τον ζαχαριαν και εθαυμαζον εν τω χρονιζειν αυτον εν τω ναω 1:22 εξελθων δε ουκ ηδυνατο λαλησαι αυτοις και επεγνωσαν οτι οπτασιαν εωρακεν εν τω ναω και αυτος ην διανευων αυτοις και διεμενεν κωφος 1:23 και εγενετο ως επλησθησαν αι ημεραι της λειτουργιας αυτου απηλθεν εις τον οικον αυτου
1:24 μετα δε ταυτας τας ημερας συνελαβεν ελισαβετ η γυνη αυτου και περιεκρυβεν εαυτην μηνας πεντε λεγουσα 1:25 οτι ουτως μοι πεποιηκεν ο κυριος εν ημεραις αις επειδεν αφελειν το ονειδος μου εν ανθρωποις
Kathleen Norris, “Mysteries of the Incarnation: I. ‘She Said Yeah’,” Little Girls in Church, p. 61
Kathleen Wakefield, “Mary’s Poem,” Divine Inspiration, p. 11
Walter Wangerin, Jr., “Annunciation,” Stories for the Christian Year, p. 62-71
W. B. Yeats, “The Mother of God,” Selected Poems and Plays, p. 133
Carla De Sola, The Spirit Moves, p. 41
The Spirit Moves
Hildegard of Bingen, “Antiphon for the Virgin,” Divine Inspiration, p. 9
Andrew Hudgins, “The Cestello Annunciation,” Odd Angles of Heaven, p. 142
Stephen Mitchell, “The Annunciation,” Parables and Portraits, p. 34
Primo Levi, “Annunciation,” Divine Inspiration, p. 10
Thomas Merton, “The Messenger,” Selected Poems, p. 7 f.
“The Annunciation”
Kathleen Norris, “Annunciation,” Amazing Grace, p. 71-77
“Annunciation”
A bell rings three times, as the Angelus begins, bringing to mind Gabriel and Mary. “She said yeah,” the Rolling Stones sing from a car on the interstate, “She said yeah.” And the bells pick it up, many bells now, saying it to Mechtild, the barn cat, pregnant again; to Ephrem’s bluebirds down the draw; to the grazing cattle and the monks (virgins, some of them) eating silently before the sexy tongue of a hibiscus blossom at their refectory window. “She said yeah.” And then the angel left her.
“The Cestello Annunciation”
“The Mother of God”
The threefold terror of love; a fallen flare
Through the hollow of an ear,
Wings beating about the room;
The terror of all terrors that I bore
The heavens in my womb.
Had I not found content among the shows
Every common woman knows
Chimney corner garden walk
Or rocky cistern where we tread the clothes
And gather all the talk?
What is this flesh I purchased with my pains
This fallen star my milk sustains
This love that makes my heart’s blood stop
Or strikes a sudden chill into my bones
And bids my hair stand up?
“The Messenger”
Imaging the Word, Vol. 3, p. 92
27 Matthew 1:18
28-31 Zephaniah 3:15-17
31 Matthew 1:21
32-33 2 Samuel 7:12-16; Isaiah 9:7
37 Genesis 18:14; Luke 18:28
26-35 Frederick Buechner, “The Annunciation,” The Magnificent Defeat, p. 58-65
26-35 Frederick Buechner, “Gabriel,” Peculiar Treasures, p. 39
“Gabriel”
26-31 Dom Helder Camara, Through the Gospel, p. 11
26-27 Geza Vermes, The Changing Faces of Jesus, p. 228
The Changing Faces of Jesus
… the earliest interpreters of the primitive tradition … could have read into the story of Jesus and his virgin mother a meaning that would have brought his origin into line with the legendary births of such heroes as Isaac, Jacob and Samuel, whose fathers, though credited with responsibility for their conception, were provided with offspring by means of a divine intervention whereby their wives’ incapacity was healed.
That primitive Christianity turned from this alternative of faith in divine mediation to the totally novel belief in an act of divine impregnation, with as its consequence the birth of a God-man, belongs of course to the psychology of religion rather than to its history.
28-35 Samuel Terrien, “The Cloud of the Presence,” The Elusive Presence, p. 414
“The Cloud of the Presence”
28 Malcolm Muggeridge, Jesus: The Man Who Lives, p. 19
35 C. Norman Kraus, “According to [Luke’s] account the angel told,” The Community of the Spirit, p. 15
“According to [Luke’s] account the angel told”
35 Geza Vermes, Jesus the Jew, p. 222
Jesus the Jew
The Mishnah, the oldest of the rabbinic codes, defines a virgin as a female who “has never seen blood even though she is married” (mNiddah 1:4). …
… In face, rabbis seriously debated whether bloodstains found after the wedding night in the nuptial bed of a minor, i.e., a “virgin in respect of menstruation,” marked her first period or the consummation of the marriage. So the idea of conceiving on the first physical opportunity and thus becoming a “virgin mother” was not a mere flight of fancy of the overimaginative rabbinic mind.
… virginity and virgin birth were much more elastic notions in Jewish antiquity than Christian tradition allows.
38 Madeleine L’Engle, Walking on Water, p. 8
Walking on Water
to paint a picture or to write a story or to compose a song is an incarnational activity. The artist is a servant who is willing to be a birth-giver. In a very real sense the artist (male or female) should be like Mary, who, when the angel told her that she was to bear the Messiah, was obedient to the command.
26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Hail, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” 29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered in her mind what sort of greeting this might be. 30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there will be no end.” 34 And Mary said to the angel, “How shall this be, since I have no husband?” 35 And the angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. 36 And behold, your kinswoman Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37 For with God nothing will be impossible.” 38 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
1:26 εν δε τω μηνι τω εκτω απεσταλη ο αγγελος γαβριηλ υπο του θεου εις πολιν της γαλιλαιας η ονομα β 1:27 προς παρθενον μεμνηστευμενην ανδρι ω ονομα ιωσηφ εξ οικου δαυιδ και το ονομα της παρθενου μαριαμ 1:28 και εισελθων ο αγγελος προς αυτην ειπεν χαιρε κεχαριτωμενη ο κυριος μετα σου ευλογημενη συ εν γυναιξιν 1:29 η δε ιδουσα διεταραχθη επι τω λογω αυτου και διελογιζετο ποταπος ειη ο ασπασμος ουτος 1:30 και ειπεν ο αγγελος αυτη μη φοβου μαριαμ ευρες γαρ χαριν παρα τω θεω 1:31 και ιδου συλληψη εν γαστρι και τεξη υιον και καλεσεις το ονομα αυτου ιησουν 1:32 ουτος εσται μεγας και υιος υψιστου κληθησεται και δωσει αυτω κυριος ο θεος τον θρονον δαυιδ του πατρος αυτου 1:33 και βασιλευσει επι τον οικον ιακωβ εις τους αιωνας και της βασιλειας αυτου ουκ εσται τελος 1:34 ειπεν δε μαριαμ προς τον αγγελον πως εσται τουτο επει ανδρα ου γινωσκω 1:35 και αποκριθεις ο αγγελος ειπεν αυτη πνευμα αγιον επελευσεται επι σε και δυναμις υψιστου επισκιασει σοι διο και το γεννωμενον αγιον κληθησεται υιος θεου 1:36 και ιδου ελισαβετ η συγγενης σου και αυτη συνειληφυια υιον εν γηρει αυτης και ουτος μην εκτος εστιν αυτη τη καλουμενη στειρα 1:37 οτι ουκ αδυνατησει παρα τω θεω παν ρημα 1:38 ειπεν δε μαριαμ ιδου η δουλη κυριου γενοιτο μοι κατα το ρημα σου και απηλθεν απ αυτης ο αγγελος
Carla De Sola, The Spirit Moves, p. 43 & 49
43 Matthew 3:14
43 Malcolm Muggeridge, Jesus: The Man Who Lives, p. 24
39 In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a city of Judah, 40 and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit 42 and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 And why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For behold, when the voice of your greeting came to my ears, the babe in my womb leaped for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be fulfilment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”
1:39 αναστασα δε μαριαμ εν ταις ημεραις ταυταις επορευθη εις την ορεινην μετα σπουδης εις πολιν ιουδα 1:40 και εισηλθεν εις τον οικον ζαχαριου και ησπασατο την ελισαβετ 1:41 και εγενετο ως ηκουσεν η ελισαβετ τον ασπασμον της μαριας εσκιρτησεν το βρεφος εν τη κοιλια αυτης και επλησθη πνευματος αγιου η ελισαβετ 1:42 και ανεφωνησεν φωνη μεγαλη και ειπεν ευλογημενη συ εν γυναιξιν και ευλογημενος ο καρπος της κοιλιας σου 1:43 και ποθεν μοι τουτο ινα ελθη η μητηρ του κυριου μου προς με 1:44 ιδου γαρ ως εγενετο η φωνη του ασπασμου σου εις τα ωτα μου εσκιρτησεν το βρεφος εν αγαλλιασει εν τη κοιλια μου 1:45 και μακαρια η πιστευσασα οτι εσται τελειωσις τοις λελαλημενοις αυτη παρα κυριου
Walter Brueggemann, “Energizing and Amazement in Jesus of Nazareth,” The Prophetic Imagination, p. 99
“Energizing and Amazement in Jesus of Nazareth”
Robert McAfee Brown, Unexpected News, p. 74-88
Carla De Sola, The Spirit Moves, p. 50
Eugene La Verdiere, “The Lord’s Prayer in Literary Context,” Prayer and Scripture, p. 113-116
Edward Schillebeeckx, “Magnificat: A Toast to God,” God Among Us, p. 20-26
Sister Rebecca Shinas, “Mary’s Song,” I Am a Singer of His Songs, Side One Marilyn von Waldner, “Father make us like Mary.,” What Return Can I Make?
46-55 1 Samuel 2:1-10; Psalm 113:7-9; Ezekiel 17:24
46-48 Isaiah 61:10
48 1 Samuel 1:11; Psalm 45:17; Isaiah 57:15; Mark 14:9
49 Psalm 111:9; Zephaniah 3:17
50 Psalm 103:17
52 Job 5:11; 12:19
54-55 Micah 7:20
55 Genesis 17:7
46-49 Madeleine L’Engle, The Irrational Season, p. 71 72 74
The Irrational Season
It takes great courage to be truly meek, and the best description of meekness I know is the first four lines of the Magnificat. …
It is not nearly as meek and mighty in the new translations. I don’t want my meekness watered down. …
And the pain was bad, bad and I kept on breathing and saying Please God …
And after sever hours I was all right and my son was brought to me and put in my arms and my soul magnified the Lord …
49 Oscar Romero, The Violence of Love, p. 8
The Violence of Love
50 Oscar Romero, The Violence of Love, p. 126
The Violence of Love
The person who feels the emptiness of hunger for God
is the opposite of the self-sufficient person.
In this sense “rich” means the proud,
“rich” means even the poor who have no property
but who think they need nothing, not even God.
This is the wealth that is abominable to God’s eyes,
what the humble but forceful virgin speaks of:
“He sent away empty-handed the rich”
those who think they have everything
“And filled with good things the hungry”
those who have need of God.
46 And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden. For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed; 49 for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. 50 And his mercy is on those who fear him from generation to generation. 51 He has shown strength with his arm, he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts, 52 he has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted those of low degree; 53 he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent empty away. 54 He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, 55 as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his posterity for ever.”
56 And Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her home.
1:46 και ειπεν μαριαμ μεγαλυνει η ψυχη μου τον κυριον 1:47 και ηγαλλιασεν το πνευμα μου επι τω θεω τω σωτηρι μου 1:48 οτι επεβλεψεν επι την ταπεινωσιν της δουλης αυτου ιδου γαρ απο του νυν μακαριουσιν με πασαι αι γενεαι 1:49 οτι εποιησεν μοι μεγαλεια ο δυνατος και αγιον το ονομα αυτου 1:50 και το ελεος αυτου εις γενεας γενεων τοις φοβουμενοις αυτον 1:51 εποιησεν κρατος εν βραχιονι αυτου διεσκορπισεν υπερηφανους διανοια καρδιας αυτων 1:52 καθειλεν δυναστας απο θρονων και υψωσεν ταπεινους 1:53 πεινωντας ενεπλησεν αγαθων και πλουτουντας εξαπεστειλεν κενους 1:54 αντελαβετο ισραηλ παιδος αυτου μνησθηναι ελεους 1:55 καθως ελαλησεν προς τους πατερας ημων τω αβρααμ και τω σπερματι αυτου εις τον αιωνα
1:56 εμεινεν δε μαριαμ συν αυτη ωσει μηνας τρεις και υπεστρεψεν εις τον οικον αυτης
Andrezj Morsztyn, “To St. John the Baptist,” Divine Inspiration, p. 15
57 Now the time came for Elizabeth to be delivered, and she gave birth to a son. 58 And her neighbors and kinsfolk heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her.
59 And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they would have named him Zechariah after his father, 60 but his mother said, “Not so; he shall be called John.” 61 And they said to her, “None of your kindred is called by this name.” 62 And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he would have him called. 63 And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, “His name is John.” And they all marveled. 64 And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God. 65 And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea; 66 and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, “What then will this child be?” For the hand of the Lord was with him.
1:57 τη δε ελισαβετ επλησθη ο χρονος του τεκειν αυτην και εγεννησεν υιον 1:58 και ηκουσαν οι περιοικοι και οι συγγενεις αυτης οτι εμεγαλυνεν κυριος το ελεος αυτου μετ αυτης και συνεχαιρον αυτη
1:59 και εγενετο εν τη ογδοη ημερα ηλθον περιτεμειν το παιδιον και εκαλουν αυτο επι τω ονοματι του πατρος αυτου ζαχαριαν 1:60 και αποκριθεισα η μητηρ αυτου ειπεν ουχι αλλα κληθησεται ιωαννης 1:61 και ειπον προς αυτην οτι ουδεις εστιν εν τη συγγενεια σου ος καλειται τω ονοματι τουτω 1:62 ενενευον δε τω πατρι αυτου το τι αν θελοι καλεισθαι αυτον 1:63 και αιτησας πινακιδιον εγραψεν λεγων ιωαννης εστιν το ονομα αυτου και εθαυμασαν παντες 1:64 ανεωχθη δε το στομα αυτου παραχρημα και η γλωσσα αυτου και ελαλει ευλογων τον θεον 1:65 και εγενετο επι παντας φοβος τους περιοικουντας αυτους και εν ολη τη ορεινη της ιουδαιας διελαλειτο παντα τα ρηματα ταυτα 1:66 και εθεντο παντες οι ακουσαντες εν τη καρδια αυτων λεγοντες τι αρα το παιδιον τουτο εσται και χειρ κυριου ην μετ αυτου
“Blessed Be the Living God”
Blessed be the living God, Life of all creation.
Blessed be the One Who comes promising salvation.
Blessed be the ones who wait in anticipation.
Refrain:
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Sing of all the graces.
Hallelujah! Praise the ways God lives and moves among us.
Blessed be the Living Word, wisdom of the sages,
shining like the morning star, light to all the ages,
pointing out the path of peace as the battle rages.
Love invites us to become prophets to the nations,
calls us to prepare the way for its incarnations,
even as we suffer through trials and tribulations.
We who follow on the way, selfless forsaking,
will encounter, like the dawn all around us breaking,
tender mercies of our God, love within awaking.
John Michael Talbot, “Blessed be the Lord,” Meditations in the Spirit
Helmut Thielicke, “For What Are We Waiting?,” How to Believe Again, p. 169-181
Vannorsdall, “The Dawn from on High,” Weavings (November/December 1997), p. 33-36
Miriam Therese Winter, “Blessed Be the Living God,” Songlines
76 Malachi 3:1
78 Matthew 2:2 [αναταλη]
79 Isaiah 9:2
67-72 Imaging the Word, Vol. 2, p. 74-77
67 And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying, 68 “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people, 69 and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, 70 as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, 71 that we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all who hate us; 72 to perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant, 73 the oath which he swore to our father Abraham, 74 to grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear, 75 in holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our life. 76 And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, 77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, 78 through the tender mercy of our God, when the day shall dawn upon us from on high 79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
80 And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness till the day of his manifestation to Israel.
1:67 και ζαχαριας ο πατηρ αυτου επλησθη πνευματος αγιου και προεφητευσεν λεγων 1:68 ευλογητος κυριος ο θεος του ισραηλ οτι επεσκεψατο και εποιησεν λυτρωσιν τω λαω αυτου 1:69 και ηγειρεν κερας σωτηριας ημιν εν τω οικω δαυιδ του παιδος αυτου 1:70 καθως ελαλησεν δια στοματος των αγιων των απ αιωνος προφητων αυτου 1:71 σωτηριαν εξ εχθρων ημων και εκ χειρος παντων των μισουντων ημας 1:72 ποιησαι ελεος μετα των πατερων ημων και μνησθηναι διαθηκης αγιας αυτου 1:73 ορκον ον ωμοσεν προς αβρααμ τον πατερα ημων του δουναι ημιν 1:74 αφοβως εκ χειρος των εχθρων ημων ρυσθεντας λατρευειν αυτω 1:75 εν οσιοτητι και δικαιοσυνη ενωπιον αυτου πασας τας ημερας της ζωης ημων 1:76 και συ παιδιον προφητης υψιστου κληθηση προπορευση γαρ προ προσωπου κυριου ετοιμασαι οδους αυτου 1:77 του δουναι γνωσιν σωτηριας τω λαω αυτου εν αφεσει αμαρτιων αυτων 1:78 δια σπλαγχνα ελεους θεου ημων εν οις επεσκεψατο ημας ανατολη εξ υψους 1:79 επιφαναι τοις εν σκοτει και σκια θανατου καθημενοις του κατευθυναι τους ποδας ημων εις οδον ειρηνης
1:80 το δε παιδιον ηυξανεν και εκραταιουτο πνευματι και ην εν ταις ερημοις εως ημερας αναδειξεως αυτου προς τον ισραηλ