Luke 1: 57-66, 80
Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her.
On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him Zechariah after his father. But his mother said, “No; he is to be called John.” They said to her, “None of your relatives has this name.” Then they began motioning to his father to find out what name he wanted to give him. He asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And all of them were amazed. Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue freed, and he began to speak, praising God. Fear came over all their neighbors, and all these things were talked about throughout the entire hill country of Judea. All who heard them pondered them and said, “What then will this child become?” For, indeed, the hand of the Lord was with him.
The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day he appeared publicly to Israel.
New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved.
The Gift of Voice
This is one of my favorite Gospel passages. It speaks of my own all too regular experience of not trusting, of doubting, of ignoring God’s voice and call in me as well as in others. Recall that earlier in the chapter of John’s Gospel, Zechariah, fulfilling his priestly service in the temple, receives a message from an “angel of the Lord,” that his equally aged wife, Elizabeth, would bear a son, who’s name would be John. Zechariah questions Gabriel, the angel, who then imposes silence on Zechariah.
This Gospel passage describes in almost comedic fashion the back and forth of the conversation about which name to give to their new son. Finally, when Zechariah confirms the name of John, as he was commanded by God through the angel Gabriel, he receives his voice back.
Zechariah loses his speech until he confirms God’s voice within. I wonder if his imposed silence was a gift – that he would ponder the word of God deep within, teaching him truth and wisdom, affirming the voice of God in his heart, pointing him to where God was active in his life and the world. [Today I begin an annual 8-day silent retreat – with this Gospel passage echoing within me.]
AND did you notice how Elizabeth, who spoke John’s name first (the child’s own mother!) was questioned, then overlooked and ignored? Silenced: not by God, but by the people assembled? How easy to find in history, and still, the silencing and overlooking of women! And likewise, to those who are of other races, who are poor or disadvantaged, and those with whom we disagree.
Our voice, our ability to speak, is a magnificent gift from God, complex in the necessary cognitive, neurological, muscular, and pulmonary structures of our body. How well do I care for, respect, and offer the beautiful gift of speech in ways worthy of such a powerful gift? To teach, give gratitude, encourage, praise God and all God’s people? To help build up the Body of Christ and the Kingdom of God?
—Fr. Glen Chun, SJ, a priest of the Midwest Province, is community minister of Bellarmine House of Studies in St. Louis.
Prayer
The Words of the Wise:
Incline your ear, and hear my words,
and let your mind attend to my teaching;
For it will be well if you hold them within you,
if they all are ready on your lips.
That your trust may be in the LORD,
I make them known to you today—yes, to you.
—Proverbs 22:17-19
Pray with the Pope
Pray with the monthly prayer intentions of the pope.