An Opportunity for Faith
“With the spirit and power of Elijah he will go before them… to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
On this second day of the Lenten season, we awoke and, perhaps, still had ashes on our foreheads. These ashes remind us that though we will return to dust, we are not dust yet. What a reason for hope!
Some of us may relate to Zechariah and Elizabeth, who experienced barrenness and were now “getting on in years.” God saw them. It was not in extraordinary circumstances, but in the middle of Zechariah’s regular workday, that God sent a word of comfort. Luke records that Gabriel, an angel, brought the message. God was aware that the couple had prayed about their infertility, the Lord heard their petitions, and the Lord was responding. The witness of Zechariah and Elizabeth invites us to stop and remember that even the righteous and blameless face challenges—but the Lord does not forget us.
As with modern pregnancy announcements, this was meant to be a moment of joy. Indeed, it was good news! John would be the forerunner to the Son of God!
But Zechariah, a priest, is astonished that his prayers would really be answered. The early church responded similarly after praying for Peter’s release from prison (Acts 12:12-16). We still respond like this today. In Zechariah’s case, the man who did not believe the Lord’s word loses the power to speak words. Zechariah is rendered silent. In silence, he is given the opportunity to begin a time of reflection and listening prayer. Though none of us hope to undergo an ordeal like Zechariah, we would do well to bring ourselves into our own moments of voluntary listening, inviting God to do the talking.
Like the hearers of John’s message, we desire to be “a people prepared for the Lord” (v.17). The Lenten path leads us to Easter. The kind of transformation we seek happens by faith. May we become the kind of person who is not only faithful to pray, but who is also full of faith.
Lord, we believe. Help our unbelief. Amen.
PRESTON HEARNE
Master of Divinity Student
Fate, Texas