Another Silence

Gospel: Luke 1: 5-25

The silence of Joseph led to hearing the voice of God within and acting upon it when the time was right.  Today the forced silence of Zechariah provides us a different - though similar - reflection on silence.  For Zechariah was forced to be silent as a result of his rash speech to the angel who announced to him a great gift from God. He used that time wisely to learn how to listen to God's voice and act upon it, and when the time was right Zechariah gave John his name and a great prayer that is said everyday in morning prayer throughout the Church.

In our own lives we might find ourselves silenced by events and situations in our life, stunned to silence as it were before the great mystery of God and our own inadequacy.  In such instances we have a gift given to us, the gift Zechariah received: an opportunity to reflect, to listen to God's voice dwelling within us, and to act upon that word when the time is right.  

We often regard this silencing of Zechariah as a punishment, but in reality it was a great gift.  We often see our silences in the face of inadequacy and failure as punishments as well. In reality, it is a gift that we ourselves God offers us in these moments of life too, an opportunity to reflect and listen to God. Advent is our time of forced silence to listen to God's voice and recognize his presence and coming each day in our encounters with others.