Reflection for December 24
The gospel account from Luke focuses on Zechariah's prophecy spoken to his son, John. Now remember, Zechariah was essentially made mute by the angel, Gabriel, for doubting God's word about his wife, Elizabeth, bearing a son. He had been waiting his entire life for the two things that happened to him on the same day: He was the priest chosen to enter the Holy Place on this particular day (one out of 1000 such priests in his division, out of 24 divisions) and he received a message from God that his prayers for a son had been answered!
So, Zechariah endured several months before he would speak again. The first words out of Zechariah's mouth were words of praise to God and affirmations of God's promises to his people. Next, were the words of a father inspired by the Holy Spirit, who imprints upon his son, his identity in God.
Many fathers do not realize that one of their most critical responsibilities is to give their children an identity. Many children were given wrong messages growing up about who they are by parents who were unaware. They may have been born into alcoholic or other dysfunctional families. Those children learned self-doubt and fear in an environment where feelings and perceptions were judged as wrong or defective. Likely, these messages were not intentional, but were passed down through generations of families. Clearly, Zechariah did not carry a spirit of faith and trust in God into the Holy Place. This may have been an attitude learned from his father.
We don't know if the Holy Spirit helped to heal Zechariah's unbelief and give him a new attitude during his time of quiet or if the Holy Spirit waited for that exact moment when He allowed Zechariah to finally speak. Zechariah spoke words of promise and purpose into his son's life that day. John the Baptist knew who he was from a very early age.
Jesus beckons us to reconcile ourselves to God so we may know the truth about who we are and heal our own father wounds. Our Father in heaven is waiting for us to share with us our true identities. It is never too late to learn who we truly are and to pass on that truth to our children.
Scott Flanagan