Today’s Reading: Luke 1:1-25, 57-66

HAVE YOU EVER ARGUED WITH GOD?

Have you ever asked God for something but, when He gave it to you, you chose to ask more questions instead of going first to praise and thanksgiving? Have you ever heard God’s promise but lacked the faith to believe that He was really speaking to you, or that He was really saying what you had been waiting to hear?

This is the story of the Jewish priest, Zechariah. He and his wife, Elizabeth, were righteous in God’s eyes as they served Him obediently. They were both very old and had never been able to conceive.

One day Zechariah was serving God in the Temple, for his order was on duty that week. As was the custom of the priests, he was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense. – Luke 1:8-9

There were 24 orders of priests (1 Chronicles 24) and then a large number of priests in each order. On this day, his order was on duty and they cast lots to see who would have the honor of entering the sanctuary of the Lord and burning incense. It was possible that a priest may never be chosen or that this would be a once in a lifetime opportunity for a priest. Today, the lot fell to Zechariah.

While Zechariah was in the sanctuary, an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the incense altar. Zechariah was shaken and overwhelmed with fear when he saw him. But the angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give you a son, and you are to name him John. You will have great joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the eyes of the Lord. He must never touch wine or other alcoholic drinks. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even before his birth. And he will turn many Israelites to the Lord their God. He will be a man with the spirit and power of Elijah. He will prepare the people for the coming of the Lord. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and he will cause those who are rebellious to accept the wisdom of the godly.”

Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I be sure this will happen? I’m an old man now, and my wife is also well along in years.”

Then the angel said, “I am Gabriel! I stand in the very presence of God. It was he who sent me to bring you this good news! But now, since you didn’t believe what I said, you will be silent and unable to speak until the child is born. For my words will certainly be fulfilled at the proper time.” – Luke 1:11-20

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN SILENCED BY GOD?

Because of their age, Zechariah struggled to believe this amazing message delivered by Gabriel. Instead of praising God, he argued and asked more questions, so God silenced him. Zechariah lacked the faith to believe the angel was really saying what he had been longing to hear for so many years.

When Zechariah’s week of service in the Temple was over, he returned home. Soon afterward his wife, Elizabeth, became pregnant and went into seclusion for five months. “How kind the Lord is!” she exclaimed. “He has taken away my disgrace of having no children.” – Luke 1:23-25

When it was time, Elizabeth gave birth to a son and declared his name would be John. When those around her argued that she needed to choose a family name, Zechariah wrote the words, “His name is John.” Instantly his voice came back and Zechariah began praising God! (Luke 1:57-64)

I wonder if God considers silencing us. At times he asks us to be silent in order to spend more time listening for His voice; He asks us to silence the noise so that we can hear His gentle whisper. Perhaps God desires for us to receive His words without comment, sarcasm, questions, cynicism or doubt.

In 1818, another priest sat frustrated by the damage mice had done to the church organ. What would they do that night when the congregation arrived for Christmas mass if there was no organ to play? Joseph Mohr took a poem he had written, asked his friend to put it to music, and he played the guitar while leading his church in this song — a song we find ourselves singing every Christmas Eve:

Silent night, holy night!
All is calm, all is bright.
Round yon Virgin, Mother and Child.
Holy infant so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace

Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight.
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia,
Christ the Savior is born!
Christ the Savior is born

Silent night, holy night!
Son of God love’s pure light.
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus Lord, at Thy birth
Jesus Lord, at Thy birth

Lord, we wait before you today in silence. Our desire is to hear from you, so we ask that you help us block out the distractions in order to hear your voice; help us to silence the chaos and focus on you and the celebration of your birth. Father God, we ask for an increase in faith so that we can believe your promises to be true and trust that your plan is always the perfect plan. Amen.