In today’s readings, we encounter similar storylines – angels deliver God’s messages that answer prayers and realize dreams that seemingly lay in tatters. There are contrasting reactions, belief and unbelief and in the end, God’s promises are fulfilled at the proper time. As for us, how do we treat God’s promises? Like Zechariah, if initial skepticism was our default, there is still time for surrendering control and placing our trust in God’s omnipotence.
God’s Promise
Zechariah is visited by the angel Gabriel while he performs his priestly service in the temple. God’s promise is revealed to the aged priest. His prayers are being answered: his wife was to bear him a son. Even the name was supplied. His son John was destined to be great, in the sight of God, he was to be filled with the Holy Spirit from his inception, turning the hearts of the children of Israel to the Lord and going before him in the spirit and power of Elijah. His son was to be the greatest of prophets – John the Baptist – crying out in the wilderness, reconciling people to God. And, people would flock to him and seek repentance through baptism in the river Jordan.
“He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah* to turn the hearts of fathers toward children and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous, to prepare a people fit for the Lord.” Luke 1:17
Zechariah in time would compose his great Canticle, the Benedictus which is prayed daily during Morning Prayer (Lauds) in the Liturgy of the Hours. But at this encounter with the heavenly being, his heart quailed with fear, and his doubts surged up and burst forth from his lips.
Man’s Unbelief
It’s the age-old doubt. Not me, not this, surely there is someone else more worthy, Lord? In Zechariah’s case, his protest is recorded as follows:
How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years. Luke 1:18
The aged Zechariah had given up. His hope had been extinguished. He was praying but without any real conviction that anything concrete would result. Zechariah forgot his history: how God had provided an heir to Abraham in his old age. As for his wife Elizabeth, her childlessness was similar to the great women in the Old Testament: Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel, the mother of Samson and Hannah.
The angel reminds the hapless priest of his own identity: Gabriel who stands before God. And the speech wasn’t mere idle chatter around the well. This is gospel, good news, words spoken by an angel who appears out of thin air, conveying a message whose originator was God Almighty! And hence, Zechariah’s tongue was bridled and he was rendered mute. Elizabeth immediately conceived and chose seclusion herself, and the chastened priest and his wife demonstrated for us the way to respond to interior confusion. With introspection. With discernment. Silence. This is how we too should use the precious season of Advent. During these four weeks before Christmas, we can discern what it is that God is truly asking us.
Second Chances
Zechariah was to speak again. At the birth of his beloved son, he affirms on a tablet: “John is his name”. And just like that, the dam bursts:
Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed, and he spoke blessing God. Luke 1:64
The doubts had receded and convictions re-emerged from the protracted silent introspection; now faith, hope and love shone forth stronger than ever, operating on all cylinders!
Where have we compromised on our identity and the promise that God chose for us? It’s never too late, the story is still being written. We can reach back into our pasts and reclaim our broken dreams, reclaiming our identity as God’s precious child, made in His image and His likeness. God doesn’t make mistakes. We were meant to fulfill a particular goal for our lives. Fulfilling that goal requires faith. May the blessings of these twin year-end seasons of Advent and Christmas expand our hearts and give us the requisite courage, honesty and application to finish the race well, having fought the good fight and fulfilling God’s goal of becoming great in His sight.
Great job as usual Patrick/Julie. Keep ’em coming.