December 19

"O Root of Jesse, who stood as a sign for the people, before you kings shall remain silent, and to you the Gentiles shall make supplication: come to deliver us, and delay not" (Traditional "O" Antiphon). As I see the word "silent" in our "O" Antiphon, I cannot help but think about the Gospel for today, Luke 1:5-25. The Gospel presents us with Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist. He was a priest and was chosen to burn incense in the sanctuary of God. While he was in there the angel of the Lord, Gabriel, appeared to him and brought him the great news that his wife Elizabeth would conceive and bear a son. The angel even told Zechariah to not be afraid, but he did not believe what was being said. Thus, Gabriel said this, "I am Gabriel, who stand before God. I was sent to speak to you and to announce to you this good news. But now you will be speechless and unable to talk until the day these things thake place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled at their proper time." Zechariah waited in silence for these things to happen. Once they occurred and he wrote to the people the name of the child, his tongue was freed and he was able to speak. In the midst of our busyness and all the voices around us, we need to find that silence and listen to the voice of God. We look forward to the day when all these things will take place. Let us be silent, listen, and wait with joyful anticipation and hope! Have a blessed day!!!