Week 2 Day 4

Today is a day to share paintings I have found.  

What other ideas do you have for Zechariah and/or silence?

Gabriel speaking to Zechariah

John is born!

Week 2 Day 3

Today's meditation comes from Finding the Messiah: Seasons of Deeper Devotion by Jane Rubietta.

Really Quiet Time

What if we could witness Zechariah's wonder over the prophecy, his tenderness with his beloved wife of many years, this love of his life?  What if we could see how the miracle, and the muteness, changed him?

Zechariah experienced some extended quiet time.  Between Elizabeth's five-month seclusion and his inability to talk, no doubt the couple's social life diminished, as did their conversations.  Zechariah was silent, and not able to speak even if he wanted.  For a person accustomed to words, whether many or few, extended silence is torturous no matter one's personality.  Even babies, who have no words, make all sorts of noises to communicate.

Silence offered Zechariah the space to listen to his own unbelief.  Sometimes in silence we realize that our voices are tired, that we are weary of our own words and worries.  We notice that our thoughts exhaust us and realize that we have nothing new or interesting to talk about.  We tire of ourselves.  In silence we wonder how people put up with our complaining and handwringing, and we see our own fear-based life in a new, quiet light.

Zechariah surely meditated with horror on his own failure and fear, reliving his question of Gabriel - "How can I know this for sure?"- and wanting to kick himself to kingdom come.  But silence doesn't have to lead us to intense shame and then halt there.  Silence can take us into new grace, a deep space, an internal Holy Place.  There we realize that the Holy Spirit has overlaid all our wood with the gold of God's presence, the gilding of forgiveness, the fragrant aroma of heaven-scented love.  There our dirge turns into praise, however silent it might sound.

... Maybe those days of gestation for Elizabeth - because Zechariah's evident lack of belief did not hinder God's deliverance on the promise of a child! - were also days of gestation for Zechariah.  He had to listen deeply as the truth and glory of God, as the goodness and faithfulness of this God who delights to fulfill His promises (Psalm 145:13), as the sheer astonishment at God's favor filled him.  Maybe, there in the fields and barn, in silent prayers under bright stars and in the dark of night, alone, the words and wonder filled the belly of his soul full of God.

What difference does silence make in your ability to listen to your soul, to God's Word, to the people in your world?

Week 2 Day 2

The scripture for this week's advent theme is Luke 1:5-25.  When I was planning these themes and scriptures I did not realize how God was working things together.  (Isn't that often the case!)  On Sunday, December 13, I will be preaching.  My passage is this exact passage.  I love how God has given me a chance to really think about this passage this week and ponder silence.  Blessings as you read and ponder, too.

In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron.  Both of them were upright in the sight of God, observing all the Lord's commandments and regulations blamelessly.  But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren; and they were both well along in years.

Once when Zechariah's division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense.  And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.

Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense.  When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear.  But the angel said to him: "Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard.  Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John.  He will be a joy and a delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord.  He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth.  Many of the people of Israel will he bring back to the Lord their God.  And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous - to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

Zechariah asked the angel, "How can I be sure of this?  I am an old man and my wife is well along in years."

The angel answered, "I am Gabriel  I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news.  And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their proper time."

Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple.  When he came out, he could not speak to them.  They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak.

When his time of service was completed, he returned home.  After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion.  "The Lord has done this for me," she said.  "In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people."

Luke 1:5-25

Week 2 Day 1

This week's word is silence.

In the hundreds of years spent anticipating the arrival of Messiah, the people waited in silence.  God had sent His messengers.  Many people did not listen.  And, so, the people waited in silence.

Then, God sent word of the arrival of the forerunner.  Again, there was disbelief.  This time there was a forced silence.

In the silence, God is at work.

Silence is not to be feared or undesired.

We should lean into the silence.  Resting in it.

Even when we don't understand it.

Even when we can't feel Him.

Even when we feel abandoned and alone.

He is there, in the silence.  Sitting with us.

The end of the silence will come.

I look forward to exploring this theme together this week.  Let's see what God has to say to us about silence.

Week 1 Day 6

We round out this week with an advent prayer...

God of forgiveness,

I turn to you in my great weakness and beg for your help.

Let me feel the joy growing in my heart as I anticipate your coming.

I hear the message of the prophets of old 
and know that the Messiah will bring 
new life and new ways of living.

From the humbleness of my life, 
help me to grow and bloom 
and hear the words 
that will change the world.

Week 1 Day 6

O Come Emmanuel is one of my favorite Christmas carols.  I really like this version.

I can feel the anticipation in the lyrics of this song as the author recalls the promises of who Messiah will be and is.

Click on the title to hear the song:
O Come, O Come Emmanuel

Week 1 Day 5

After the lovely art of yesterday, I am going to post some of my own photos, from the past half a year or so, that I think depict anticipation.
Feel free to share any comments about the photos or photos of your own!

Anticipating a new day

Anticipating new life

Anticipating meeting with God
and hearing from Him as we converse

Anticipating guidance for a sermon

Anticipating resting with Jesus

Anticipating creativity

Anticipating a challenge and accomplishment