"Mom, why didn't you wake me up?" Because we had to finish my son's exams this week, I had to make the call of not letting him attend the Misa De Gallo; explaining to him that he needed to be alert in order to finish before Christmas. I dangled Star Wars, for good measure, and he conceded. He drew comfort from knowing that the presiding priest was not his favorite.
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Have you ever wondered why angels in Scriptures typically start out conversations with "Do not be afraid"? I read from one of Madeleine L'Engle's books that angels look scary. Very plausible theory, I thought ... until I heard Day 4's readings.
In the 1st reading, Samson's mother described the angel as "terrible indeed"; while in the Gospel, Zechariah was described as "troubled by what he saw, and fear came upon him." So, it must be true. Angels are not the beautiful creatures we grew up to know. (I think we need to tell our children these stories truthfully. Perhaps, then, beauty will not be as overrated as it is now). Imagine seeing a scary creature who introduces itself as coming from God and actually bears good news? What irony! It must feel the same way as when going through trials. Thus, no matter how terrible the trial is, we must trust that there is some good news enfolded in it. In all my years I have proven time and again, every "bad" thing is actually a blessing in disguise.
Two other lessons were reinforced in the readings and deserve to be highlighted:
- Nothing can prevent fulfillment of God's will, not even our disbelief. There will be repercussions for the lack of faith, yes, but His will always prevails.
- There is a proper time for everything. Prayers are answered in God's proper time, when they are best able to serve their purpose.
Judges 13:2-7, 24-25
2 There was a certain man from Zorah, of the clan of the Danites, whose name was Manoah. His wife was barren and had borne no children. 3 An angel of the Lord appeared to the woman and said to her, “Though you are barren and have had no children, yet you will conceive and bear a son. 4 Now, then, be careful to take no wine or strong drink and to eat nothing unclean. 5 As for the son you will conceive and bear, no razor shall touch his head, for this boy is to be consecrated to God from the womb. It is he who will begin the deliverance of Israel from the power of the Philistines.” 6 The woman went and told her husband, “A man of God came to me; he had the appearance of an angel of God, terrible indeed. I did not ask him where he came from, nor did he tell me his name. 7 But he said to me, ‘You will be with child and will bear a son. So take neither wine nor strong drink, and eat nothing unclean. For the boy shall be consecrated to God from the womb, until the day of his death.’ ” 24 The woman bore a son and named him Samson. The boy grew up and the Lord blessed him; 25 the Spirit of the Lord stirred him.
Luke 1:5-25
5 In the days of Herod, King of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah of the priestly division of Abijah; his wife was from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 Both were righteous in the eyes of God, observing all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly. 7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren and both were advanced in years. 8 Once when he was serving as priest in his division’s turn before God, 9 according to the practice of the priestly service, he was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary of the Lord to burn incense. 10 Then, when the whole assembly of the people was praying outside at the hour of the incense offering, 11 the angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right of the altar of incense. 12 Zechariah was troubled by what he saw, and fear came upon him. 13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall name him John. 14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, 15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He will drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb, 16 and he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah to turn the hearts of fathers toward children and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous, to prepare a people fit for the Lord.” 18 Then Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.”19 And the angel said to him in reply, “I am Gabriel, who stand before God. I was sent to speak to you and to announce to you this good news. 20 But now you will be speechless and unable to talk until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled at their proper time.” 21Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and were amazed that he stayed so long in the sanctuary. 22 But when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He was gesturing to them but remained mute. 23 Then, when his days of ministry were completed, he went home. 24 After this time his wife Elizabeth conceived, and she went into seclusion for five months, saying, 25 “So has the Lord done for me at a time when he has seen fit to take away my disgrace before others.”
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