A Reading:
Luke 1:5-25 (NIV)
5 In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron.
6 Both of them were upright in the sight of God, observing all the Lord's commandments and regulations blamelessly.
7 But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren; and they were both well along in years.
8 Once when Zechariah's division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God,
9 he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense.
10 And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.
11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense.
12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear.
13 But the angel said to him: "Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John.
14 He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth,
15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth.
16 Many of the people of Israel will he bring back to the Lord their God.
17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous--to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."
18 Zechariah asked the angel, "How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years."
19 The angel answered, "I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news.
20 And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their proper time."
An Advent Reflection
The Christmas carol proclaims:
Angels from the realms of glory
Wing your flight over all the earth
Ye, who sang creations story
Now proclaim Messiah's birth
Come and worship, come and worship
Worship Christ the newborn King
When Zechariah met the angel Gabriel in the temple, he was obviously startled, surprised, caught off guard – more fear than awe I expect. The angel is not just any angel, but Gabriel – an angel that “stands in the presence of God.” He comes to “begin” the Advent story in the Gospels. He proclaims the “forerunners” coming and supplies details: A “he”, his name, his life, and his purpose.
So, what was Zechariah thinking after this celestial visitation?
“You are kidding me?”… “Not possible”.
And, being told that his response was not what the Angel called a response of faith, Gabriel declares Zechariah would be silent – mute – until the day it all comes to past.
What happened to Zechariah between “Your prayers have been heard…” and his response of “How can I be sure…?” The same thing that happens to us…we hear God poorly…humanly.
The word “listening” in Latin is obedire, from which we get the word “obedience”. Jesus kept telling followers to “listen”… “have ears to hear”. Listening isn’t automatic in human relationships, it’s even more important and needs exercising in listening to God. The Latin word for “not listening” is surdus, from which we get the word “absurb”. If a person is not listening at all…deaf to everything around them…their life is being led absurbly.
To “listen” is what it means in the words “your prayers have been heard”. Listening starts when we connect our prayers in our mind to our heart and believe the truth that God really hears and that what appears improbably, or impossible, is only in our limited understandings.
We must not be too hard on Zechariah…he’s me! I’ve been a Zechariah a number of times. Analyzing, thinking more of the impossible than the possible. My spiritual cup is more often than not “half empty” rather than “half full.” “Lord I believe, help my unbelief”, was the cry of the man who brought his son to Jesus to be healed. I believe in you Lord, but do I believe in you in me?
I love Gabriel’s posture… “you will be silent…mute…not able to talk…because you did not believe my words, WHICH WILL COME TRUE at their proper time.”
So, let’s ask: “Is there in anything in my life right now in which I’m being a Zechariah? God has spoken to me…I hear the promise… I know his heart is for me… But… “Lord I believe, help my unbelief.”
A prayer:
“O Lord…Father of our Lord Jesus Christ…and my Father…
Hallowed (Holy) are you…
When you see the world, you are not overwhelmed, like I often am…
Stir up my heart.
Let heaven intrude upon my earthly affairs to rip my attention from the world to you again.
Advent means you invaded the earth…came to set the captives free…launched an all out assault on complacency and unbelief…
So even now….I pray, stir up my heart…Immanuel, be with me and free me.”
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