Fourth Tuesday of Advent – 23 December 2025
– You can ponder on the picture. For a method of praying with pictures click button below.
– You can pray on the words of Scripture. For methods of praying with scripture click button below.
– You can follow the suggestions in the daily ‘Reflection’.
– You can listen to the music
Today’s Scripture
Luke 1:57-66 ESV
The time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. And her neighbours and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child.
And they would have called him Zechariah after his father, but his mother answered, ‘No; he shall be called John.’ And they said to her, ‘None of your relatives is called by this name.’ And they made signs to his father, enquiring what he wanted him to be called. And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, ‘His name is John.’ And they all wondered. And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God. And fear came on all their neighbours. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea, and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, ‘What then will this child be?’ For the hand of the Lord was with him.
Reflection
Another scene full of rejoicing in today’s passage. Rejoicing, wonder, surprise and awe amongst all who heard the news of the boy born to Zechariah and Elizabeth. And much pondering and reflecting. They “laid [these things] up in their hearts”, recognising that God was at work. Those are words we perhaps associate with Mary, who likewise “treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart” (Luke 2:19). The Christmas story is so familiar that perhaps we simply read it without allowing much time to ponder and reflect, to wonder and rejoice.
What parts of the Christmas story are you being invited or prompted to ponder?
What might you wonder at afresh from this story this year?
Who are the people you have encountered in your life journey who have caused you to become aware that ‘the hand of the Lord was with’ them? You may wish to take time today to thank God for them and for God’s work in them.
Today’s Music
What Child Is This (from The Chosen Christmas Special) | One Voice Children’s Choir | Kids Cover
O Immanuel, you are our king and judge, the One whom the peoples await and their Saviour. O come and save us, Lord our God.
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