Today's verse gives us a joyful proclamation from Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist. His heart is filled with praise for God, who has visited and redeemed His people. This is a miraculous intervention of Divine love and power, breaking into the world's darkness like a new dawn.

Zechariah speaks joyously of God's faithfulness to continue the divine story which He has been writing since the world began. Salvation is not a sudden thought in the mind of God but a reality He has been planning "as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old". The intimate knowledge of God's will shared by the prophets again emphasizes that the coming of Christ is not a random occurrence or an afterthought, but rather a pre-planned move by a loving God.

We too, like Zechariah, can rejoice today in the great light that has come into our dark world. God's plan of redemption is the thread that holds together both the Old and New Testaments – it’s the beautiful story of God’s love for us.