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Zachary
- The father of John the Baptist and husband of Elizabeth, a
descendant of Aaron. Zachary was a priest of the eighth sacerdotal
class of Abia. On the day on which he obtained by lot the singular
privilege of offering incense upon the altar in the Holy Place, the
Angel Gabriel appeared to him. The angel announced that the prayer
of Zachary and Elizabeth had been heard and that they would have a
son, and that he might see the Messiah. However, Zachary doubted he
and his wife could still have a child in their declining years, and
so asked for a sign. For his incredulity, the sign was pronounced
in the form of punishment – being struck dumb temporarily. This
incapacity lasted until the eighth day after the birth of the child,
the day on which he was to be circumcised. Zachary wrote on a
tablet that the child’s name was to be “John” and immediately his
speech returned; and he uttered the famous song of gratitude, the
Benedictus.
Zeal
-
Enthusiastic interest in pursuing a cause. 1. God’s zeal is
mentioned as a ardent intensity in divine action concerning mercy or
punishment. God’s zeal intervened on behalf of His people when
pagan nations tried to alienate the Israelites from Yahweh. At
times God’s zeal is coupled with words such as anger, wrath, and
fury; it is chiefly awakened by Israel’s worship of other gods.
Zechariah,
The book of - Prophetic writing of the
Old Testament, containing, for its length, the largest number of
predictions about Christ. Three visions concern the foundation of
the Messianic kingdom. The fourth makes the promise “to raise my
servant Baruch” (3-9b). The fourth through the sixth visions treat
of Christ the priest and king. An address stresses the keeping of
the commandments, and the motive power of the Messianic prophecies
(7-8). The rest of the book is mainly two burdens: one over Syria,
Phoenicia, and the Philistines; and the other over Israel. In the
first is the prophecy of Palm Sunday (9:9-10), and the purchase of
Haceldama for the treason money of Judas, who betrayed Christ. In
the second (12) is a promise of the restoration of Jerusalem. The
author calls himself “son of Berechiah,” but he is most probably not
the prophet.
Zephaniah,
The book of - The ninth of the minor prophets,
Zephaniah was a direct descendant of King Hezekiah of Judah, of
Judean origin, and born 660 B.C. He saw the Scythian invasion of
Palestine as the instrument of God’s judgment on Judah and , in a
sense, on the whole world (1:2-3), with the blame lying in their
attraction to pagan rituals. With obvious influence from Amos and
Hosea, he also censures the people for their lack of concern for
ethical standards (1:8-9); he places a great emphasis, perhaps more
than any other prophet, on the Day of the lord and the consequent
ruin and devastation. The book does not have an optimistic ending;
God will renew the faithful remnant in Judah and will rejoice over
them (3:9-20).
Zucchetto
- The small skull cap worn by bishops and other prelates.
Originally it was designed to cover the tonsure; today, however, it
has become a sign of dignity.
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