Advent: getting on the path of peace...

 And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;
  for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
 to give knowledge of salvation to his people
  in the forgiveness of their sins,
 because of the tender mercy of our God,
  whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high
 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
  to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
(Luke 1:76-79 ESV)
Having done first things first after his months of silence, and focusing on Christ, Zachariah then turns to his newborn son and rejoices in what he is being called to do: to get people back on the path.  His job is to proclaim the mercy and forgiveness of God which is found in Christ, so that, when the Light shines, we will not reject Him, but allow Him to shine on our path, and to follow Him.  He is the way, the path to true peace.  Once on the path, we too need to repeat the same message of hope to others.