Mercy, light and guidance

Morning: Psalms 93, 96; Baruch 4:21–29; Galatian 3:15–22

Evening: Psalms 148, 150; Isaiah 33:17-22; Luke 1.67–80

Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, foresaw what Jesus’ birth would mean when he said: ‘By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.’  If ever we needed mercy and a new dawn from beyond us, if ever we needed light in the deep darkness that engulfs so much of our common life, if ever we needed guidance to lead our world into peace, it is now.