Luke 1: 67-79
Zechariah his father, filled with the Holy Spirit,
prophesied, saying: “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; for he has come to
his people and set them free. He has raised up for us a mighty Savior, born of
the house of his servant David. Through his prophets he promised of old that he
would save us from our enemies, from the hands of all who hate us. He promised
to show mercy to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant. This was the
oath he swore to our father Abraham: to set us free from the hand of our
enemies, free to worship him without fear, holy and righteous in his sight all
the days of our life. You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most
High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way, to give his people
knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins. In the tender
compassion of our God the dawn from on high shall break upon us, to shine on
those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into
the way of peace.”
* * *
Introductory Prayer: I believe in your loving presence with
me, Lord, and I tremble as I consider the immense love you have for me. I do
not deserve your grace, and yet I cannot live without it. You have called me to
rise above my sin and misery and to live in your love as one of your children.
I truly want to show you my love.
Petition: Lord,
help me to seek you and find you through silence.
1. Silence
for Reflection: Zechariah had been in silence (a silence
imposed by God) for over nine months. Perhaps at the beginning, he had felt
frustrated at not being able to communicate normally with others. As time goes
on, that frustration turns into resignation and reluctant acceptance. Through
perseverance and prayer, suddenly he begins to love the trial God had imposed
on him, embracing it wholeheartedly and willingly. When we see someone who is
suffering, be it in a hospital, a nursing home or even on the street or at
work, we need to bring them this message of hope. Suffering has a meaning, a
redemptive value, if we unite our sufferings to those of Christ.
2. Silence
for Union with Our Lord: We see that Zechariah’s 9-month “retreat”
has provided him the opportunity for a closer contact with God. Through prayer
he has been brought to a deeper and experiential knowledge of God, which has
converted him into an apostle in his desire to share this experience with
others. As his wife’s period of waiting results in her giving birth to a
prophet, so Zechariah’s “incubation” period also turns him into a prophet: He
foretells that salvation for his people is near at hand. We will have words of
wisdom and encouragement for others when we have discovered how to be alone
with God in the secret depths of our hearts. Silence is a vehicle for achieving
this intimacy.
3. Silence
for Praise: At some moment during his tribulation,
Zechariah would recall the angel’s words, “you will be speechless and unable to
talk until the day these things take place” (Luke 1:20). Hope would invade his
heart. The day is coming when he would be able to speak again! He has nine
months to prepare his speech. The first words he utters as his tongue is
loosened are not a curse against God for having made him suffer, but a hymn of
praise for his mercy on a sinful humanity. He has experienced this mercy in his
own flesh. We are meant to communicate truth through speech, and the greatest
truth is what God has done for each of us and wishes to do for every single
person. When our speech is a result of what we have first meditated on
profoundly, our words will bear fruit. Does my speech normally edify others? Do
my words ordinarily come from the good I have experienced in God’s company? Am
I aware of how much we can build up others through good conversations?
Conversation
with Christ:
Lord, your birth comes tonight. I want to have a proper place prepared for
you. Please help me to make it warm and comfortable for you. Make up for what
is lacking in my poor efforts to please you. O King of Glory, may my every
thought, word and deed of this day be a fitting homage for your coming.
Resolution: Today, I will
strive to edify others though my words.