Tuesday of the Third Week of Advent

READINGS

Gospel Lk 1:5-25

In the days of Herod, King of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah

of the priestly division of Abijah;his wife was from the daughters of Aaron,

and her name was Elizabeth. Both were righteous in the eyes of God,

observing all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly.

But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren and both were advanced in years.

Once when he was serving as priest in his division's turn before God,

according to the practice of the priestly service, he was chosen by lot

to enter the sanctuary of the Lord to burn incense.

Then, when the whole assembly of the people was praying outside

at the hour of the incense offering, the angel of the Lord appeared to him,

standing at the right of the altar of incense.

Zechariah was troubled by what he saw, and fear came upon him.

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. He will drink neither wine nor strong drink.

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.

He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah to turn the hearts of fathers toward children

and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous,

to prepare a people fit for the Lord."

Then Zechariah said to the angel, "How shall I know this?

For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years." And the angel said to him in reply,

"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, which will be fulfilled at their proper time."

Meanwhile the people were waiting for Zechariah

and were amazed that he stayed so long in the sanctuary.

But when he came out, he was unable to speak to them,

and they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary.

He was gesturing to them but remained mute.

Then, when his days of ministry were completed, he went home.

After this time his wife Elizabeth conceived,

and she went into seclusion for five months, saying,

"So has the Lord done for me at a time when he has seen fit

to take away my disgrace before others."

REFLECTION

"My mouth shall be filled with your praise, and I will sing your glory! "(Psalm 71:8)

In today's Gospel, Zechariah is told by the Angel Gabriel that he and his wife will have a son in their old age.

In response to the news, Zechariah said to the angel, "How shall I know this?

For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years." (Luke 1:18)

Six months later, the Angel Gabriel was sent by God, to the city of Nazareth to announce to the virgin, Mary, that she was to bear a son.

Mary asks the Angel this question, "How shall this be done, since I do not know man?" (Luke 1:34)

The Angel's reaction to both questions was very different.

Why did the Angel Gabriel react to Zechariah differently than the way he reacted to Mary?

Archangel Gabriel made Zechariah speechless, while Mary is sent to visit her cousin Elizabeth and she proclaims the Magnificat. Could the reason be the difference between Zechariah's lack of trust and Mary's unwavering Trust in God?

Mary is our model for trusting in the Lord. Pray to Mary and ask her to teach us to trust in the Lord like she does. Then may we say the same words that Mary proclaimed, "Let it be done unto me according to your word." Then praise God for all He has done for us! "My mouth shall be filled with your praise, and I will sing your glory! "

Here is Mary's prayer of praise to the Lord.

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Savior for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant. 

From this day all generations will call me blessed: the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name.

He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation. He has shown the strength of his arm, he has scattered the proud in their conceit.

He has cast down the mighty from their thrones and has lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty.

He has come to the help of his servant Israel for he remembered his promise of mercy, the promise he made to our fathers, to Abraham and his children forever.

(Lk 1: 46-55)