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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. \u201cThe Lord has done this for me,\u201d she said. \u201cIn these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.\u201d \xa0(Luke 1:21-25)

The people begin to get restless, realizing that the old priest is taking longer than usual. \xa0Is something wrong? \xa0Should someone go in and check on him? \xa0Is that even allowed?

The people were waiting for Zechariah, because he was supposed to come back out to them at the end of this worship service and bless them. \xa0So: where was he? \xa0Why hadn\u2019t he come? \xa0Everyone knows the blessing is the most meaningful part of the whole service for those worshiping: it\u2019s one of those places where God\u2019s grace is given and spoken directly to us. \xa0

When Zechariah eventually did emerge, however, he had no blessing to give. \xa0He could not \u201csay to the Israelites\u201d the blessing that God had commanded the priests to say: he couldn\u2019t say anything! \xa0He was lifting his hands, but not in blessing. \xa0What was the old man up to?

It was not angry signs that he made with his hands: there must have been something on his face and the way that he gestured that communicated some strange mix of awestruck joy. \xa0The people clued in immediately: even though Zechariah could not use his words to tell them he had seen a vision, the people understood it all the same. \xa0

And even though Zechariah could not bless the people, I wonder if they weren\u2019t more profoundly blessed that day than they had been in a long time. \xa0Because here, before them, stood living proof that God had shown up among them that day. \xa0Living proof that not only could God act in their lives: but he had! \xa0Right there! \xa0They may not have known what exactly it was God was up to because, well, Zechariah just couldn\u2019t say, but they knew that God had somehow acted to silence the old priest. \xa0And in Zechariah\u2019s silence: God\u2019s own word spoke volumes. \xa0\u201cBehold: I am with you\u201d that silence must have said.

As Zechariah returned home, the journey remained silent. \xa0No one would know for quite some time what God had announced to the old priest in the temple that day. \xa0Elizabeth did indeed conceive, but kept to herself in seclusion for a few months, probably to weigh out if she could really take this pregnancy to be real and true and lasting and believe that God had indeed given her such a gift and enabled her to carry that gift to term and birth that gift to life.

In the silence of Zechariah\u2019s loss of speech, I\u2019m sure those two did a lot of smiling. \xa0Slowly Elizabeth\u2019s trust and hope grew. \xa0\u201cThe Lord has done this for me,\u201d she finally whispered one day. \xa0

The Lord\u2019s blessing comes to Elizabeth and to his people in such delightfully unexpected ways. \xa0And, I think that\u2019s actually more often how God\u2019s blessing comes: unexpectedly. \xa0

Have you ever experienced God\u2019s blessing in an unexpected place or way? \xa0Take that memory out again today, turn it around and savour it in a few moments of your own silence before God. \xa0

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).

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