December 20: Zechariah & Elizabeth
Traditional Ornament: Angel
Reading: Luke 1: 5-25
“Do not be afraid Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard.” (Luke 1:13)
Today’s reading begins the Infancy Narrative in Luke’s gospel, with the announcement of the birth of John the Baptist. Zechariah was a holy man – a priest, and his wife Elizabeth was a cousin of Mary, the Blessed Mother, and both were “righteous in the eyes of God.” (Luke 1:6) The angel Gabriel appears to Zechariah and tells him that he and his wife Elizabeth will bear a son, John. The angel tells Zechariah that his son “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 … prepare a people fit for the Lord.” (Luke 1:15-17)
As a priest, Zechariah understands what this means. His son is to be consecrated to the Lord’s service and will proclaim the coming of the Messiah. As a priest, he also understands the power of God to work miracles in peoples’ lives, and this would be a miraculous birth since he and Elizabeth were old and had been childless for many years. As a priest, he knew well the story of Abraham and Sarah. Despite that, as the angel tells him that his prayer for a child has been answered, he responds with doubt. With that Gabriel tells Zechariah that he will be speechless and will remain mute until the child is born.
We don’t know the reason behind Zechariah’s doubt. We do know that no one is immune to it. So, what can we do then, when we are faced with our own doubt? I think the answer may be in Zechariah’s story. He was stricken mute until the time that God fulfilled his promise of the birth of a son for the barren couple. Zechariah’s inability to converse gave him time to work through his doubt – to reflect and to pray and restore his trust in God. This should be our response to doubt as well, and through doubt, we can come to an even deeper faith.
© 2017 Catechist’s Aide
Leave a Reply