LK 1:5-25
The account of St. John the Baptist’s annunciation perfectly captures the message of the season of Advent. Zechariah and Elizabeth were good people who lived their lives joyously, even though Elizabeth was barren. One day while Zechariah was burning incense in the sanctuary, the angel Gabriel came to tell him that Elizabeth will become pregnant. Their son, named John, would prepare the people for the coming of the Lord. Zechariah, doubtful due to their old age, doesn’t believe what he is hearing. As a result, he becomes mute until the day of John’s birth.
During the season of Advent, we are called to trust in the Lord and prepare ourselves for His coming, just like Zechariah and Elizabeth for their son. We should be alert for our own “wake up call” by seeing the Lord in the people around us, not just focusing on the shopping and the decorations. Although Zechariah was “righteous in the eyes of God,” he still had trouble acting on his faith. Letting God carry out His will without hesitation may be what’s on His Christmas list this year.