Dec 23 2020 Reflection

Wednesday 23 December 2020

First Reading: MAL 3:1-4, 23-24
Responsorial Psalm:
Lift up your heads and see; your redemption is near at hand.
PS 25:4-5AB, 8-9, 10 AND 14
Gospel Reading: LK 1:57-66

Today’s Note: Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Advent

Gospel Reading:

When the time arrived for Elizabeth to have her child
she gave birth to a son. 
Her neighbors and relatives heard
that the Lord had shown his great mercy toward her,
and they rejoiced with her. 
When they came on the eighth day to circumcise the child,
they were going to call him Zechariah after his father,
but his mother said in reply,
“No. He will be called John.” 
But they answered her,
“There is no one among your relatives who has this name.” 
So they made signs, asking his father what he wished him to be called. 
He asked for a tablet and wrote, “John is his name,”
and all were amazed.
Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed,
and he spoke blessing God.
Then fear came upon all their neighbors,
and all these matters were discussed
throughout the hill country of Judea.
All who heard these things took them to heart, saying,
“What, then, will this child be?”
For surely the hand of the Lord was with him.

Reflection:

Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed, and he spoke blessing God. (Luke 1:64)

Do you ever feel like a “DIY Fail”? A DIY (or Do-It-Yourself) Fail is a popular term that describes what happens when you work really hard on a project that you have seen on the internet or TV—but you just can’t make it work. The finished product often looks like a messed-up imitation of the original version you were aiming for.

As a Christian, we may sometimes look at ourselves as DIY Fails. We look at the “perfect” Christians around us and wonder why we make so many mistakes or fall prey to so many temptations.

Don’t be too hard on yourself. You aren’t the first person to feel this way, especially during the rush of the Christmas season! Do you remember when Peter denied Jesus three times before the cock crowed? Or when Thomas doubted that his friends had truly seen Jesus?

Today, we read about another “DIY Fail.” Zechariah was “righteous in the eyes of God” (Luke 1:6). When an angel came to tell him that his prayers had been answered and that his elderly wife would have a child, he doubted. And for his lack of faith, Zechariah lost his ability to speak until the angel’s promise came true—the story we hear in today’s Gospel.

Isn’t it appropriate that God sent Zechariah’s son, John the Baptist, to convince us that no matter how bad of a “DIY Fail” we become, God will always take us back? God knew that we needed to hear that Christ loves us so much that he will always have mercy on us when we return to him. 

With only two days until Christmas, try to break free from whatever failures may be burdening you and keeping you trapped in silence. It’s only natural to have occasions when you fail at trusting or obeying the Lord—as long as you use it as an opportunity to grow closer to him. 

When he was freed from the burden of his doubts and unbelief, Zechariah broke into a song of praise. That can happen to you! So place your trust in the coming of Christ. Ask him for forgiveness. Then you’ll be free to praise God for his love and faithfulness.

“Thank you, Lord, for always taking me back, no matter how many times I fail!”