December 19, 2018 Wednesday,
3rd Week of Advent
1st Reading: Jdg 13:2–7, 24–25a Gospel:
Lk 1:5–25
Now, while Zechariah and those with him were fulfilling their office, it fell to him by lot, according to the custom of the priests, to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense. At the time of offering incense all the people were praying outside; it was then that an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. On seeing the angel, Zechariah was deeply troubled and fear took hold of him.
But the angel said to him, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah, be assured that your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son and you shall name him John. He will bring joy and gladness to you and many will rejoice at his birth.
He himself will open the way to the Lord with the spirit and power of the prophet Elijah; he will reconcile fathers and children, and lead the disobedient to wisdom and righteousness, in order to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.”
Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I believe this? I am an old man and my wife is elderly, too.” The angel replied, “I am Gabriel, who stands before God, and I am the one sent to speak to you and bring you this good news! My words will come true in their time. But you would not believe and now you will be silent and unable to speak until this has happened.”
Meanwhile the people waited for Zechariah, and they were surprised that he delayed so long in the sanctuary. When he finally appeared, he could not speak to them and they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He remained dumb and made signs to them. (…)
D@iGITAL-EXPERIENCE
(Daily Gospel in the
Assimilated Life
Experience)
To modern pragmatists, it appears stupid that a woman should be made to bear a child when her biological system is no longer capable of nourishing an infant in the womb. Yet this is exactly what God did to Elizabeth. She was made to bear a child at her old age. Either he is remiss or he doesn’t know what is supposed to be done.
In an interview with ABS-CBN, a lady Senator said: “This God is an underachiever. He does not do what he is supposed to be doing xxx. I am sure that if you were a God or I were the God I will be doing a better job. Therefore the only conclusion can be is that possibly God does not exist.”
Although Christian faith seeks understanding, it does not give us any easy answer to many mysteries surrounding God’s designs. Zechariah became mute when he asked a lot of questions outside the ambit of faith. Perhaps, we too would be doing better if we just shut up and allow God to take over. – (Atty.) Rev. Fr. Dan Domingo P. delos Angeles, Jr., D.M.
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