Gospel Reflections for June 24 2018
Think again!
Sometimes we speak too soon …or jump to conclusions. …Never a good plan!
Today’s Gospel tells the story of Zachariah, the father of John the Baptist. He was an old man and had been told by God that he would have a son. An old man with a newborn son? He cannot understand that and doubts God’s plan. As a consequence, the Angel of the Lord strikes him unable to speak. How could this happen?
It is not a punishment at all from the angel, but actually just good advice. The Angel wants Zachariah to “stop talking” and “start thinking things over.”
After all, the Angel knew that Zachariah was a scholar of the scriptures, and so knew well the miracle stories of Moses crossing the Red Sea, and Daniel miraculously saved from lions, and many other amazing miracle stories. Why would Zachariah doubt that God who could do all these amazing miracles could bring forth a child from an elderly couple?
Perhaps Zachariah, while believing in all these miracles about Moses, Daniel, and others, did not believe that God would actually work a miracle …for him!
That was unfortunate jumping to a false conclusion, and too often what happens today as well. The Angel of the Lord strikes Zachariah unable to speak as a way of saying, “Stop talking …and think again!” The angels sends a simple message that God actually does love you, Zachariah, and wants you to have a child.
We cannot ever be a “Zachariah” in our life. We must believe that God actually wants to still do miracles today, and especially in your life as well.
This story is part of the Christmas stories of the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. That the Son of God would be born in Bethlehem, into our world, proves that He means to have a practical impact in your life today. The very reason we have Mass every week and all of the ministries we have affirms that same mission.
Why not just accept God’s will that He means for you to have lasting happiness? Do not fight His plan for you as Zachariah did, but accept it as Mary so humbly did, when she said, “Not my will but yours be done.”
God’s blessings for all people is equally sent, none more or less for saints or sinners. Our only task is to accept His grace, and rejoice in it.
God Bless!
Fr. Dave
God is so good and there are truely still miracles… I think some don’t believe there are
many that happen around us daily. We just must must believe we are worthy of that gift. I know I do forget that sometimes!
My prayer must continue to be stronger in faith…
Well said! Keep your eyes open for miracles.
Fr. Dave
Yes yes yes God does send us miracles. Thanks be to God.
We have to be the shining examples for the world to see. We are Jesus’s hands and feet now and hearts to love the world.
God Bless
Jane
Yes, we are His hands, eyes, and feet!
Love your precious words Father Dave, ” Accept God’s grace and rejoice in it!!! Love our precious God, love our precious Faith and love you for giving us the gtift of our loving Jesus!! We are soooooooooooooooooooooo blessed!!! Loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee, Franca and Dick
Thank you!
When life throws us an unexpected twist, it can be hard to understand why!
However, God knows why.
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your
ways, and My thoughts higher than your thoughts”
We have Jesus who has gone before us to turn to in trying times as He prayed in the garden,
“Father, if it is possible… nevertheless, not My will but yours be done”.
Well said!
Thank you always providing a fresh and relevant insight into the gospel readings. Sometimes I wish God would send an angel to make me mute so I don’t say something I may regret!🤣🤣
Trusting in God’s long term plan for me reduces my stress in difficult situations.
Barbara Nelson
Always a good plan to trust in God’s plan!