Reflection for December 23
Reflecting upon this passage, and the earlier passage of Luke, when Zechariah was made speechless because he doubted what he was told by the Angel of the Lord, it brings to my mind the challenge of being open to the new, to guidance from the Holy Spirit. I think there is a tendency to rely on past beliefs and rituals instead of trusting in guidance and messages from Our Lord.
When Zechariah was told, by the Angel of the Lord, that his wife would bear a son who would be called John, Zechariah’s first inclination was to doubt. Having been made speechless as a result of his questioning the Angel Gabriel, and then, ultimately, witnessing his wife’s pregnancy and the birth of a son, Zechariah acceded to the truth of the message from Angel Gabriel, and his wife, Elizabeth, who said, “He will be called John.” Though their relatives protested, Zechariah wrote on the tablet that their son would be called John. This was his affirmation and confirmation of the message from Angel Gabriel, and, as a result, he was given back his ability to speak. This whole event frightened their relatives who were witnessing the unseen and, yet, were present to the power of God.
One of the phrases that helps me is “fear forward.” Another, when I feel challenged or triggered by someone or something is “You are a part of me I do not yet know.” And another is “What does love demand?” *
As I navigate this very challenging time in our country, I am deeply grateful for my faith and the faith communities that sustain me and encourage joy and peace as well as courage to act and to speak my truth.
*The Revolutionary Love Project
Evelyn Benoit