Elizabeth couldn't get pregnant, there was no fertility treatment or In-vitro, and she was too old now, all hope had died. Then an angel spoke to her husband Zechariah. Suddenly she is pregnant in her old age. The range of emotions she must have gone through, rejoicing mixed with fear. To endure birth at her age is a scary prospect, even with today's medical technology. Elizabeth had to trust and hope in the Lord, remembering Sarah, giving birth to Isaac in her old age. Her faith is reflected in her speech to Mary, when they meet and after John’s birth at his naming.

Luke wrote an orderly account of these things. He knew scripture - that God had promised his people that he would send a Saviour. God keeps his promises, not just to Zacariah and Elizabeth but to us all. Zechariah’s son, John the Baptist was the messenger, preparing the way for the Messiah.

God keeps all his promises. Never doubt God’s ability to do that. God has made many promises in the Bible. Every single promise has or will come true. Seek them out in the Bible.

O Antiphon - O Radix Jesse

O Radix Jesse (O Root of Jesse) is sung at Vespers today. Jesus is a descendent of King David. Jesse was the father of King David, and Micah had prophesied that the Messiah would be of the house and lineage of David and be born in David’s city, Bethlehem (Micah 5:2). O 'Root of Jesse originates in a passage in the biblical Book of Isaiah which describes metaphorically the ancestry of the Messiah.

"A shoot shall come out from the stock of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots."– Isaiah 11:1

"On that day the root of Jesse shall stand as a signal to the peoples; the nations shall inquire of him, and his dwelling shall be glorious."- Isaiah 11:10

O Root of Jesse, standing as a sign among the peoples;
before you kings will shut their mouths,
to you the nations will make their prayer:
Come and deliver us, and delay no longer.