Monday of the Fourth Week of Advent
There are many characters in Scripture that mess things up at some time or another. Zechariah was no exception. He botched it when Gabriel appeared and told him about John. In today's gospel, we see the evidence of Zechariah's redemption. He shows us how to recover when we too fall short of the faith to which we are called.
When Zechariah encountered Gabriel he was given the answer to his prayer to have a child and responded with uncertainty and doubt. In response, Gabriel struck Zechariah dumb. Ironically, the father of the one who would herald the coming messiah could not herald the coming of his own son.
The first evidence that he learned from his mistakes was that he confided in Elizabeth. We see this when the neighbors come to circumcise John and Elizabeth echoes the name Gabriel gave him. Clearly, she knows the name he has been given and anticipates her husband's support in the matter. Arguably, Zechariah is doing even better than Abraham on this front as one can make the case that he held off on telling Sarah about God's promise to give them a son for a little while (reread Genesis 18:10-14 and see what you think for yourself). When we are in the midst of being drawn back to the Lord's plan, are we willing to share our story? Are we willing to share our mistakes? What about when it is difficult?
The second obvious piece of evidence was in Zechariah's obedience to name the child John. In accepting this name it also means that he accepted the prophecy Gabriel alluded to when giving the name. Gabriel told Zechariah that, in reference to John, "He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah to turn the hearts of fathers toward children" (Luke 1:17). This same line in our first reading today is preceded by the prophecy that the coming messiah would "purify the sons of Levi" (Malachi 3:3). In naming the child John, Zechariah is accepting that his line, the Levites, needs to be purified and accepts that that job will be passed on to another. Relinquishing our role in favor of another is a place where we, and many others, can get stuck. Zechariah, turning his heart to his son, graciously accepts his need for refinement.
Finally, upon regaining his speech, the first thing Zechariah does is use his tongue to praise God. Months without speech and Zechariah's first words are not excuses or complaints but worship. He is already a refined Levite. He is already offering a more pure sacrifice of his contrite heart (cf Psalm 51:17-19). Already the father's heart is being refined by his son's and the son's mission is being made manifest by the father's repentance. John's course has been set and confirmed as he and his father's hearts have been turned to each other, and he declared the coming of the messiah to his mother when he leaped in the womb.
Zechariah reveals to us how we should prepare to encounter the messiah. Let us admit our faults and learn from them. Let us accept that we will always need to surrender control and accept more correction in the future, even from those over whom we have authority, and we must be ready to respond at all times that we can use our voice with praise and worship to our God who refines and restores.
- Spencer Hargadon