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In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, one true God, forever and ever. Amen.
Dearly beloved in Christ, the season of Advent is upon us. The word "Advent" derives from the Latin term adventus, which signifies a "coming," "arrival," or "approach." Thus, we are celebrating and prayerfully anticipating the forthcoming birth of the Lord Jesus Christ, who ushers new hope into our lives.
In this Advent season, let us first ponder the duration for which we are prepared to await the reception of a favor. How much patience is truly required during that period of waiting? The lives of Zechariah and Elizabeth, as recounted in the Gospel of Saint Luke, provide profound answers to these very questions.
The Gospel passage designated for this Sunday is taken from Saint Luke, chapter 1, verses 5 to 25, wherein we read of the visitation of the Archangel Gabriel to Zechariah, the priest with the message of the birth of john the baptist
and followed by elizabeth conceiving john the baptist.
In an era defined by immediacy and instant gratification, the concept of waiting often clashes violently with human desires. We are accustomed to a world where information is retrieved instantly and goods delivered rapidly. When life's significant moments fail to align with our meticulously crafted schedules, we invariably find ourselves wrestling with a triad of corrosive emotions: discouragement, discontentment, and doubt. This modern impatience makes the ancient narrative of Zechariah and Elizabeth particularly poignant and relevant. Their lives offer a profound testament to the necessity and virtue of waiting upon divine timing.
Zechariah and Elizabeth, a righteous, elderly couple, yearned for a child, a desire that was entirely human and natural. However, their personal timeline did not align with a greater, transcendent plan. Their story underscores a fundamental spiritual truth: while we may have our own wishes and plans, a higher providence often operates according to a different, more intricate design. In their case, the timing of their child's birth was intrinsically linked to a pivotal moment in salvation history: the arrival of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world.
God's plan required their son, John the Baptist, to serve as the forerunner of his master, necessitating his birth just prior to that of the Savior. This divine orchestration meant a prolonged period of waiting for the devout couple. Yet, despite the agonizing delay, they did not succumb to despair. They countered the "three D's "-discouragement, discontentment, and doubt- with a powerful triad of their own: prayer, patience, and perseverance. Their unwavering faith, sustained through earnest prayer and steadfast endurance, allowed them to navigate the barren years without losing hope.
The ultimate validation of their steadfastness arrived with the visitation of the Archangel Gabriel. His message affirmed that their enduring faithfulness had not gone unnoticed: "Your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John." This message serves as a powerful reminder that divine timing, though often mysterious and slow by human standards, is ultimately perfect and purposeful. The lives of Zechariah and Elizabeth encourage us to surrender our immediate demands and embrace the profound wisdom of patience, trusting that our prayers are indeed heard and that every aspect of our lives unfolds according to a greater, sovereign design.
For years, they have offered earnest prayers and held patient expectations for the arrival of a child. Beloved, let us reflect: when we desire for events to unfold precisely according to our own timelines and decisions, are we not, consciously or unconsciously, attempting to seize control and sovereignty over our own existence?
This inclination raises a profound question regarding the place of the Divine in our lives. The act of waiting upon God serves as a crucial reminder that the ultimate control rests with Him. Waiting reminds me, personally, that I am not the one in charge; waiting reminds me, fundamentally, that I am not God.
In this Advent season, let us ponder this central theme: Are we truly prepared to wait patiently for God's perfect timing and sovereign plan? Or, are we merely anticipating the emergence of a deity who functions as a mere instrument, acting solely in accordance with our human wishes and plans?
"Waiting on the Lord" is a spiritual discipline that cultivates patience and trust, fundamentally reshaping a believer's perspective on time and providence. This period of anticipation is not merely passive; rather, it is an active acknowledgment that divine intervention is both necessary and perfectly timed. It allows God the space to operate according to His sovereign will, leading to the realization that His timing invariably surpasses human understanding and expectation. A central tenet of this waiting period is the profound lesson that God is continuously at work, transforming conditions of "barrenness" into fruitfulness. This concept of barrenness extends far beyond the literal inability to bear children.
It is a metaphor for any aspect of life characterized by emptiness, unfulfilled potential, or chronic lack. Such barrenness can manifest in myriad forms, including the pain of unmet expectations, pervasive loneliness, acute financial crises, the weight of regret, the sting of failure, persistent guilt, and many other deep-seated struggles of the human condition. When confronted with these periods of emptiness, a common human tendency is to retreat, to shut down emotionally and spiritually, and to close off avenues for potential help. This instinctive defense mechanism often leads individuals to inadvertently "shut all the doors," thereby failing to invite Christ into their most difficult and vulnerable circumstances.
The act of waiting on the Lord challenges this isolationist impulse. It is an exercise in faith that requires opening those closed doors and allowing the transforming power of God to enter the barren landscape of one's life. The ultimate message is one of hope: no matter how bleak or empty a situation appears, God's promise is to guide it from a state of barrenness to one of abundance and fruitfulness in due course.
In our lives, Christ is, in fact, always knocking at our door, but at times we fail to hear his voice because we are completely immersed in our barrenness. God comes into the midst of our barrenness and brings us hope. The Christmas event itself shows this hope when we look into the Holy Scripture. We see that God works in unexpected ways; I believe that God still works mysteriously in our lives too. Look back and find out how God intervened and guided us in unexpected moments in our lives. Jesus Christ is that good server who brings fertility to a barren land, and he can bring fruitfulness into our lives too.
"Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?" Jesus uses this example to teach that people should not worry, but rather trust and have hope in God's care, as He will provide for them just as He provides for the birds, and even more so, because they are far more valuable to Him.
God's promises are delivered before they are announced, as seen when Zechariah prayed expectantly for a son and received a promise from an angel, but then doubted. This doubt led to him being mute, and his story shows how doubt can cause us to falter, similar to Peter sinking when he lost faith while walking on water. There are two types of promises: unconditional, which depend on God, and conditional, which require our obedience.
We are not merely expected to remain passive, waiting for the fulfillment of God's promises. Instead, we are called to ask, seek, and knock, doing so expectantly and prayerfully. Doubting God's promises is a human tendency, but overcoming this doubt and believing in His deliverance is a hallmark of an authentic Christian life.
Saint Paul articulated the power of God in this manner:
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"but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men" (1 Corinthians 1:24-25).
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Let us connect ourselves to God through prayer, worship, and receiving the sacraments, so that we may find strength in Him.
Before concluding, I wish to make a personal appeal to all the faithful. Today, we observe many couples who have not been blessed with children. When they attend church or social gatherings, we often ask them questions about having children. These inquiries can be emotionally painful and may even strain the relationship between husband and wife. I personally know several couples who avoid public settings because of such questions. While these questions may not be intended to cause harm, I urge you to refrain from asking them. Instead, offer them emotional support and prayers.
To all the couples who have been waiting a long time to be blessed with children, remember these words: "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."
May God guide and help us all.
Amen.
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