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But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because
your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a
son, and you shall name him John. And you will have joy and
gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great
in the sight of the Lord.” Luke 1:13–15
Unlike Saint Joseph and the Blessed Virgin Mary, Zechariah doubted
the angel of the Lord’s revelation. Our Blessed Mother encountered
the Archangel Gabriel at the Annunciation and responded, “Behold, I
am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your
word” (Luke 1:38). An angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a
dream, and when Joseph awoke, “he did as the angel of the Lord had
commanded him” (Matthew 1:24).
Today, we are given a similar scene to ponder. Zechariah and
Elizabeth are identified as being “righteous in the eyes of God,
observing all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord
blamelessly” (Luke 1:6). In other words, Zechariah was a holy man
of God. While he was standing at the altar of incense located in
the Holy Place, just outside the veil of the Holy of Holies, the
Archangel Gabriel appeared to him to announce that his wife had
conceived a child in her old age. Gabriel further reveals, “He will
be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb, and he
will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God”
(Luke 1:15–16).
Given Zechariah’s personal holiness and the extraordinary
revelation he received from Gabriel, he should have believed what
Gabriel said without hesitation. When he failed to do so, Gabriel
said to him, “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
take place, because you did not believe my words…” (Luke
1:19–20).
This chastisement was clearly for Zechariah’s benefit. Despite his
lack of faith, God wanted him to participate in His divine plan of
salvation. The chastisement was not a punishment in a punitive way.
It was meant to instill greater faith in him, and it accomplished
its purpose.
Most of us are more like Zechariah than we are like our Blessed
Mother and Saint Joseph. Despite our best intentions and attempts
to remain faithful to God’s will, we stumble. When that happens, we
must see any consequences as a gift of love from God. Chastisements
come in many forms. They are meant to wake us up to a greater
obedience to God’s will.
Reflect today on any ways that your sins have resulted in
consequences. It takes deep humility to admit our sins and take
responsibility for their effects. Though it is easy to be angry, to
point the finger elsewhere, and to justify our actions, doing so is
a rejection of God’s loving chastisement meant for our good. Strive
to imitate Zecharaiah by humbly changing when your sin results in
consequences so that God can bring good into your life, even from a
lack of faith and obedience to His will.
Most merciful Lord, You chastise those whom You love so as to
redirect them to Your holy will. When I sin, please help me to
accept the consequences with humility and as a motivation to turn
back to You in fidelity and love. Please make me holy in imitation
of Zechariah, Saint Joseph, and our Blessed Mother. Jesus, I trust
in You.
Image: William Blake, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
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