"His tongue was freed and he spoke, blessing God"
When at last John was born and received his name, his father's tongue was loosened. Consider the symbolic significance of what happened and contemplate this great mystery: Zachary fell silent and lost the power of speech until John, the Lord's precursor, was born and restored his speech. Is not Zachary's silence a hidden prophecy, veiled and, as it were, pent up before Christ could be proclaimed? At his coming the prophecy was made known; it was made clear when he came as had been foretold.
Thus Zachary’s speech was restored at John's birth. This event is like the rending of the veil of the temple when Christ was crucified (Mt 27:51). If John had not proclaimed another’s coming, he could not have restored his father's speech. Zachary's tongue was loosened because a voice was born. Would not John later say: “I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness”? (Jn 1:23).