Very unexpectedly Elizabeth and Zechariah, in their old age, receive the news that their long-held dream of a child will come true. Zechariah was a Jewish priest. When God spoke about a child, Zechariah could not believe it at all at this point. Although a priest, he had to have faith and inner connections. In order to bring him there, God made him mute. Thus, John was born to an old muted priest. But in his mute silence, he had already developed a dimension that is inner and divine. Thus, as soon as he regained his voice, he burst into a prophetic song.
We see him concluding it with the words, "... to guide our feet into the path of peace".
So what?
Did the people walk in the path of peace, as Zechariah had said?
No.
And some thirty-five years later, Jesus literally weeps over Jerusalem for the same reason. “Even today if you had known, the way of peace!” is his lamentation.
It is a pity that our feet have not yet reached the way of peace!
We must get there quickly!
