TUESDAY HOMILY FOR 3RD WEEK IN ADVENT [YEAR B]

TUESDAY HOMILY FOR 3RD WEEK IN ADVENT [YEAR B]

THEME: STOP DOUBTING.

BY: FR. KARABARI PAUL

“And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things come to pass because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.”

In today’s Gospel reflection (Luke 1:5-25), we present the story of Zechariah and Elizabeth. Zechariah and Elizabeth were old and childless. Zechariah was a priest who served in the Temple. They might have prayed for a child but gave up when that was not granted and had exceeded the age of childbearing. But God, who is true to His own plan and timing, at this point, sent the angel Gabriel to announce to Zechariah in the Temple of a child who would be called John.

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According to the Angel,
John would give joy and gladness to Zechariah because he would be great in the Lord. He would stand in the tradition of the Nazarites. He would have the Holy Spirit before birth.
He would be in the Spirit and power of Elijah and turn people back and prepare them for God’s coming. John the Baptist was going to be a complete consoling gift for the couple who had endured the pain of childlessness and the mockery of the people around them. However, the man who was close to God in the temple doubted His power, for a saint’s heart may not be immune to doubt. It depends on the degree. Indeed, so many of us are close to the sanctuary, occupy positions of service, but wear faithlessness and doubt as clothes. Zechariah, because of his lack of faith, was struck dumb because instead of man to silent God, He silents man as a sign of warning, correction, and His majesty. In due course, his wife Elizabeth conceived. She spent months in retreat and thanked God for taking away her disgrace in being childless

Evidently, John wasn’t just sent as a consolation to the family of Zechariah. His mission to prepare the way for the Lord was of higher priority to God, and the father’s doubt couldn’t stop it. We must realise that nobody can stop God’s plan. No one stands His way.
Are we ready to believe, no matter how impossible it seems? We seem to forget that God is still in the business of giving surprises that shock and choke. Are we ready to handle God’s surprises. Zechariah couldn’t because God’s timing wasn’t his.

Zecheriah’s faith perhaps failed when his prayer was about to be answered, but God had seen the faith of both him and his wife Elizabeth lived over a lifetime, and he did answer their prayers. May this be an encouragement to us to keep the faith, even when it seems that our prayers are not being answered. At the appointed time, it will happen. GOD IS STILL ON THE THRONE. God bless you and your household always through Christ Our Lord Amen. Good morning.

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