Prayer: Creator, Sustainer, Redeemer You are our joy and our delight. In You we live and move and have our being. What ever we are to do this day, may we do it in Your name. What ever we are to say this day, may we say words in Your name. This we ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Read St. Luke 1: 18 – 20
Zechariah listened to all the angel has said concerning the name of his son—John. Zechariah has listened to the angel tell of the characteristics of his son—a joy and delight and great in the sight of the LORD. And finally Zechariah has listened to the angel tell of the vocation of his son—prophet.
Then Zechariah responds, “But how can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.” Zechariah questions the word of God.
After having quite a conversation with Zechariah, the angel says, “I am Gabriel…” The name Gabriel means God is strong. Zechariah would suddenly know that this messenger of God is the same messenger that interpreted the dreams for Daniel. This messenger is indeed from God. Now Zechariah must be quaking in his boots because he just asked a messenger of God for a sign that what God says will be true. Oopsie. To ask God for a sign is to deny God. Oopsie. To question God is to doubt God. Oopsie.
Because Zechariah questions Gabriel (and most importantly, questions the word of God), and asks for a sign that what Gabriel has said will become true, Zechariah is given a sign. He can not speak.
Prayer: Great God, when You give us a task may we not say, “we don’t want it”. Merciful God, when You give us an opportunity to share the love of Christ with others may we respond in joyful praise. May we listen for Your voice today with open hearts! Amen.
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