BROADCASTS.com

b'

Zechariah asked the angel, \\u201cHow can I be sure of this? I am an old man, and my wife is well along in years.\\u201d The angel said to him, \\u201cI 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 appointed time\\u201d (Luke 1:18-20).

There is something marvellous about how Luke tells this story. Clearly, these are extremely significant events. God sends out his angels to ensure that we understand just how crucial these things are. Yet, it is also clear that, despite the lack of human cooperation, God is enjoying himself. It is good for our faith to know this.

Preachers tend to be hard on doubters like Zechariah and Thomas. But the truth is, many, if not most, of us Christians have found ourselves in a spiritual place like Zechariah\\u2019s. Let\\u2019s consider his life for a moment. He and Elizabeth are introduced as righteous, observing the Lord\\u2019s commands and decrees blamelessly.

Let\\u2019s not be cynical about this description but read it considering Psalm 42, \\u201cMy soul thirsts for God, for the living God. Where can I go and meet with God?\\u201d (2). Through the long years of their lives, they had desired to be faithful to God. As a priest, Zechariah would have counselled many in the ways of righteousness and encouraged the faith of many doubters.

Often, this couple would have prayed that God fulfill that essential creational and covenantal blessing of human fruitfulness. One can imagine, as so often happens in our own lives, these prayers, once fervent, had become listless. Prayers, once uttered in expectant faith, were now shrouded in doubt. Zechariah means \\u201cthe Lord remembers\\u201d, Elizabeth, \\u201cmy God is an absolutely faithful God.\\u201d But, as month after month went by with always the same disappointment, it was difficult to remember.

Sure, Sarai was ancient when she had conceived. But in those days, God was in the habit of dropping in for afternoon tea. And now, well, no one had heard from him in about 400 years. Things are different.

Isn\\u2019t that how we end up in doubt as well? What have you prayed for month after month, year after year? Some of you for a child. Others for the return of one. Or for a job that is meaningful? Financial security? Peace in your home? At first, we thirst for God. But as his silence stretches through the years, our faith, like an elastic band either stretches till it breaks or becomes old and brittle with no stretch at all. We doubt. And our ears cannot hear God. We certainly do not expect anything from him anymore.

We understand Zechariah. And this is where God gets cheeky. When the old priest says, \\u201cI am an old man\\u201d, the angel replies, \\u201cI am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God. My \\u201cI\\u201d trumps your \\u201cI\\u201d old man. And then (I paraphrase), \\u201cYou appear to need some time to \\u2018remember that God is faithful\\u2019. Your voice will be silent, so you can hear God\\u2019s.\\u201d

Sure, there is rebuke in what Gabriel says. But also humour and irony, and the gospel. Despite Zechariah\\u2019s doubt, God\\u2019s plan will carry on. Be silent and think on it. Just be quiet for awhile and watch God work.

As Advent begins, Gabriel speaks, challenging the cynicism and despair under our mask of piety with the bold assertion that no matter how dry and barren our world (or our soul) may feel today, salvation is in the works.

Zechariah was old and full of doubts, yet God used him. This priest no longer expected a blessing from God, let alone salvation for Israel. With a twinkle in his eye, the Lord says, \\u2018Watch me!\\u2019 To those of us who struggle with doubt, Gabriel says, God will have his way ... and it will be good and full of joy. Thus,

Though you walk in darkness, may you see the great light. Though you live in a land of deep shadows\\u2014may you see light! sunbursts of light! May God increase your life, expand your joy. May you be glad in his presence! May God give you the joy of a great celebration, sharing rich gifts and warm greetings (cf. Isaiah 9:2-3 MSG).