Saturday of the Third Week of Advent
Intention: That in this season of hospitality and generosity, all of us will make a special place for those whose lives are wounded by need, misfortune or injustice.
Today’s Gospel | Luke 1:5-25
In the days of Herod, King of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah of the priestly division of Abijah; his wife was from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. Both were righteous in the eyes of God, observing all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren and both were advanced in years.
Once when he was serving as priest in his division’s turn before God, according to the practice of the priestly service, he was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary of the Lord to burn incense. Then, when the whole assembly of the people was praying outside at the hour of the incense offering, the angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right of the altar of incense. Zechariah was troubled by what he saw, and fear came upon him.
But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall name him John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He will drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb, and he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. 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.”
Then Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” And the angel said to him in reply, “I am Gabriel, who stands before God. I was sent to speak to you and to announce to you this good news. But now you will be speechless and unable to talk until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled at their proper time.” Meanwhile the people were waiting for Zechariah and were amazed that he stayed so long in the sanctuary. But when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He was gesturing to them but remained mute.
Then, when his days of ministry were completed, he went home. After this time his wife Elizabeth conceived, and she went into seclusion for five months, saying, “So has the Lord done for me at a time when he has seen fit to take away my disgrace before others.”
A Short Reflection for the Third Saturday in Advent
During Advent, one may notice that many of the Gospel readings are filled with a varied cast of perplexed and astonished people. Day after day, we read about unsuspecting souls who suddenly find themselves in the middle of situations that defy all human understanding. One of the common threads that runs through all of these narratives is the upheaval that occurs when people are suddenly thrust into a new reality. Take, for example, the reaction in today’s reading from Zechariah when he is confronted with the inscrutable ways of God. He is at a loss as to how he can accept divine intervention into his and his wife’s life, even though as a Temple priest he offers prayers and sacrifices daily so that God might do just that for all of Israel. In a classic case of “be careful what you ask for,” Zechariah thought that he knew what it meant to believe, but when his human understanding was overwhelmed, his faith faltered and God then called him on it. He made him mute, as if to say, if your words about me will only be rote and empty, then perhaps it would be better if you do not speak them at all. The author DaShane Stokes wrote, “If your actions don’t live up to your words, you have nothing to say.” Faith is not simply to believe that God can do impossible things, but that he is. The season of Advent calls us to free ourselves from the fear of things not being possible and to open our minds and hearts so that we can truly know what it means to believe.
Prayer
Eternal Father, we now look for the birth of your Son, to come into our world, to come into our hearts. And so we pray: send your Son, so that our souls may be at one with you. Send your Son, so that we may think, act, and speak with righteousness. Send your Son, so that we may be grateful for your many gifts. Send your Son, so that all of your people may find peace and justice. Send your Son, so that, in his light, all darkness may vanish. We ask this of you who lives and reigns with your Son and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.