Reflection: Luke 1:57-66

Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Advent – Luke 1:57–66

Today we hear the account of the birth of John the Baptist.  For many years Elizabeth and Zechariah had longed and hoped for a child.  After many years of struggling to accept the reality that she would not bear a child, Elizabeth became pregnant.  

Elizabeth and Zechariah believed that God finally had heard their plea and had answered their prayer.  At advanced ages, God was blessing them with a child, a son whom they named John.  Imagine the emotions they must have experienced: joy, wonder, gratitude.  What a wondrous and unexpected gift! 

Can you indentify with Elizabeth and Zechariah?  Have you been praying for a special intention for a long period of time and not received an answer?  Have you received any indication that God is listening to you?  If not, Elizabeth and Zechariah may give us hope that God does listen to our desires and needs and will answer our prayers.  The timing is not ours to know, nor is it our part to understand how all this may happen.  Our part is to pray and to trust.

God will answer us!  It may not be the answer we had hoped for, but God will gift us and grace us.  We need to have an open mind and a listening heart.   It is likely that God will come to us in ways that we do not expect.  Thus, be alert and attentive today and everyday!