「在天主前是義人，都照上主的一切誡命和禮規行事，無可指摘。」（路1:6）
福音告訴我們，匝加利亞和妻子依撒伯爾，「在天主前是義人，都照上主的一切誡命和禮規行事，無可指摘。」（路1:6）作為基督徒，能夠成為「義人」並不足夠。基督徒蒙召，不是為了成義/稱義，而是為了「成聖」。
匝加利亞伉儷，按照一切誡命和禮規行事，在人的面前當然是無可指摘；在天主前，天主亦找不到他們做得不足夠之處，所以他夫婦倆都是「義人」。在任何世代，都已經是難能可貴的了。可惜，人總有因循的傾向，倘若一切順利，就沒有改變的必要，就喪失了進步的動力。當一個天主教徒能定時辦告解、每個主日參加彌撒、領聖體，參加堂區的愛德服務、周年退省、出席講座、參加神學課程、每日讀經祈禱…已經是難能可貴的了，尚有甚麼可以改進的地方呢？
匝加利亞的故事告訴我們，因循是生命的對頭人。夫妻倆可能已經接受了沒有子嗣的現實，心理上已經作出相依為命，相伴終老的準備。當加俾額爾告訴匝加利亞，他將會成為父親的時候，他不一定不相信天使的訊息，因為他不會不熟識舊約的故事，聖祖們也是老年得子的；祗不過他懷疑已經年邁的他倆，怎樣有能力把兒子教養成人。他不願意走出已經穩定的「安樂窩」，沒有準備接受天主為他倆安排的更大的恩賜。
作為一個記號，標誌著將要出生的嬰孩是天主所挑選的先知，並幫助匝加利亞默想這嬰孩的使命，天使宣佈匝加利亞要變成啞巴，直到一切應驗為此。天主的恩寵，何其偉大！
天父啊！請幫助我們日新又新，領受祢為我們安排更豐富的恩寵。亞孟！
"And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless." (Luke 1:6)
Luke tells us that Zachariah and his wife Elizabeth were righteous and blameless before the Lord. As Christians, it is not enough to be righteous. We are called, not to be justified but to be saints.
Mr. & Mrs. Zachariah walked in all the commandments and ordinances. Naturally, they were blameless before men. Even God could not find fault with them. Thus they were both righteous. In any age and by any standard, they were commendable. Unfortunately, men tend to be complacent. When things go well, there is no urgent need to change. People begin to lose momentum to make progress. When a Catholic goes regularly to confession, attends mass on Sundays, receives Holy Communion, takes part in charitable services in the parish, joins retreats, talks, theology courses, prays and studies the Bible daily etc., he is already very commendable. What else do you expect him to improve?
The story of Zechariah tells us that routine is the nemesis of life. Perhaps both Zechariah and Elizabeth had accepted the reality of not capable of having children. Psychologically, they were prepared to stay together as a childless couple for the rest of their life. Thus, when Archangel Gabriel told Zechariah that he would have a child, he should have no doubt about the message because he was familiar with Old Testament stories in which the Patriarchs had children at the old age. Zechariah only doubted whether he was able to raise the child as he was already advanced in age. He was not willing to move out of his “comfort zone”. He was not ready to receive greater grace God had prepared for him.
As a sign to show that the child would be a prophet chosen by God and to help Zechariah meditate the mission of his child, the angel pronounced that Zechariah would be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things come to pass. How great is God’s grace!
Heavenly Father, help us renew day by day so as to receive more abundant grace You have prepared for us. Amen.
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