Mary & Zechariah's 'Canticles' compared

By Steve Leininger

Saturday of the Third Week of Advent
Malachi 3:1-4, 23-24
Luke 1:57-66

The Gospel for today comes from the first chapter of Luke and is about the birth and naming of John the Baptist. It is mostly a historical narrative, with perhaps a cautionary tale of dealing with archangels.

The gospel reading for today comes from Luke 1:57-66. The quick summary is: 

• Elizabeth gives birth to a son
  
• On the day of circumcision / naming day, friends and family show up to celebrate
  
• The expectation was that the son would be named after his father, Zechariah
  
• Elizabeth said the name will be “John”
  
• People seemed pretty agitated, and asked the same question of the father
  
• Zechariah wrote on a tablet “John is his name”
  
• Zechariah, who could not speak up to that moment, was now able to speak, blessing God
  
• Their neighbors were described as fearful, and talked about what they had seen, saying “What, then, with this child be? For surely the hand of the Lord was with him."
  

This is from the first chapter of the Gospel of Luke. To fully appreciate today’s reading, one really needs to read the whole chapter. After a short prologue (introductory section to the whole book) in which Luke states that everything has been “investigated anew” and written down “in an orderly sequence” so that the reader “may realize the certainty of the teachings” presented in the book of Luke.

The chapter then jumps right into Luke’s “Infancy Narrative” of not one, but two really special babies, John the Baptist and Jesus. The subheadings within chapter 1 are:

• Announcement of the Birth of John
  
• Announcement of the Birth of Jesus
  
• Mary Visits Elizabeth
  
• The Canticle of Mary
  
• The Birth of John
  
• The Canticle of Zechariah
  

Who was Zechariah and why could he not speak? We know from today’s reading that he is the baby’s father. The rest of the information was in the beginning of this chapter. 

What we know

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 blamelessly. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren and both were advanced in years. [Luke 1:5-7]

It seems that Zechariah was a priest that was doing his job and was considered righteous. 

Let’s look at some interesting comparisons in the announcements of the births of John and Jesus. I will frame this in the perspective of their respective parents, Zechariah and Mary.

An unexpected visitor

Zechariah:

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. [Luke 1:8-11]

Mary:

In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, “Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you.” [Luke 1:26-28]

Zechariah was performing “incense duty” in the holy sanctuary when the angel of the lord just showed up. This is a very private place, separated from the assembly, usually by the door of the tabernacle. It would be startling to have anyone show up in the holy place, let alone the angel of the Lord. It seems that Mary may have gotten gentler treatment from the angel Gabriel with the friendly greeting.

The announcement

Zechariah:

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.” [Luke 1:12-13]

Mary:

Mary was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus.” [Luke 1:29-31]

Both future parents were “troubled” by what they heard. Both were told by the angel “Do not be afraid” and that they would soon have a son and what name to give to each. There was a slight difference in circumstances, with Zechariah being told his prayer was heard and Mary being told that she had found favor with God.

God’s intentions

Zechariah: 

“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.” [Luke 1:15-17]

Mary:

“He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” [Luke 1:32-33]

It is here we first learn that John will be preparing a people fit for the Lord (make straight the path) and Jesus will be the Son of the Most High. That’s a lot of responsibility to load on new first time parents.

Shock and awe

Zechariah:

Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” [Luke 1:18]

Mary:

Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?” [Luke 1:34]

To me, these questions seem about the same. I’m guessing that any time Gabriel is in your presence making an announcement, one might have questions.

The angel responds

Zechariah:

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.” [Luke 1:19-20]

Mary:

And the angel said to her in reply, “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. And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God.” [Luke 1:35-37]

Two WAY different explanations. In the case of Zechariah, the angel names himself and proclaims his role as the messenger of God. He seems to be annoyed at Zechariah’s lack of recognition of who the angel is and his level of authority. “Because you did not believe my words, you will be speechless and unable to talk until the day the these things take place.” These things include the birth and naming of his son John. 

Mary, on the other hand, gets the explanation of who, what, and how her son will become incarnate within her, “for nothing will be impossible for God”

What happens next

Zechariah:

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. [Luke 1:21-22]

Mary:

Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her. [Luke 1:38]

Two lives changed in an instant! Zechariah was struck mute, unable to talk. He would not be able to perform his priestly functions and returned home to become a father in his old age. Mary embraced her divine situation, and as we will see later in the Bible will fulfill her role as mother of the Son of Man and  will tell others at the beginning of the ministry of Jesus to “do what he tells you.”

Mary goes on to visit her cousin Elizabeth with this very familiar story:

When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, “Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.” [Luke 1:41-42]

This was at 6 months into Elizabeth’s pregnancy with John the Baptist. Mary stayed there 3 months and then returned home. It’s not clear whether Mary was present for John’s birth, but it would have been close.

A pair of canticles

In the context of Christian liturgy, a canticle is a psalm-like song with biblical lyrics taken from elsewhere than the Book of Psalms, but included in psalters and books such as the breviary.

While at Elizabeth’s house, Mary says a prayer of thanksgiving known at the Canticle of Mary, or the Magnificat.  [see Luke 1:46-56]

After he regains his ability to speak, Zechariah prophesizes what is known as the Canticle of Zechariah, also known as The Benedictus.  [see Luke 1:67-80]

You are invited to read both of these to fill in the blanks.

The very next chapter in Luke (Chapter 2) is the birth of Jesus. Check it out! Merry Christmas!