Today we're reminded that we're the people of the faith of John. Not because we're children of Abraham, but because we've turned our faces to Jesus.

We look into this Psalm to find why praise is dedicated unto Him.

God's not hiding from us. He responds to His people. He's going to show up where we're looking for Him.

Through the sobering reality, we receive the good news.

Despite being spoken, called, and named in His mother's womb, Jesus would go on to be concealed, then crucified, until His resurrection would reveal His identity.

We find a pattern throughout Luke's gospel telling of the birth of Jesus. The pattern offers us an invitation to follow, as did Mary and the shepherds.

Zechariah’s mouth was open, and he prophesied. In his announcement, he declared what God was doing through the messiah. We look at this to learn what Zechariah said, what the church learned, and what Advent calls us to consider.

We can walk away from Malachi and be hopeful that repentance is truly possible.