December 18, 2014 Advent Devotional - Silence

Today's reading from the LEC Family Advent Devotional is Luke 1:19-20, which is the story of Zechariah's encounter with the angel Gabriel, his unbelief that he and Elizabeth would finally become parents, and his becoming mute until the day of the birth of his son John because he did not believe what the angel Gabriel told him. 

Most reflections on this passage see it as a time when Zechariah's silence was used as a time to reflect and think about the circumstance he was in.  Some, however, look at it as a warning that silence -- non action -- can mean that our words and actions are meaningless.  Believing means we have something to say.  How sad that Zechariah's silence caused by his unbelief kept him from say what he did finally believe.  As Christians we are called to believe that God answers prayers and to speak about what we have seen and heard because he has given us a voice to speak.

The key to believing and hearing God's voice is to be ready to listen and to want to hear him.

Today's Advent Photo of the Day

#silence #pictureadvent

This is a picture of the ruins of St. Kevin's Church at St. Kevin's Monastery in Glendalough, Ireland.  Several years ago, I visited this site with a choral tour group.  When we went inside this church, you could only imagine the silence that must have occurred in there -- the monks going about their business, copying ancient manuscripts in the quiet of the room as they honored their vows of silence and the daily vespers where they joined together to worship.  One of the songs that we sang during our choir tour was a simple "Alleluia" that our director had composed.  In the solemn, quiet space of this ancient church, we sang this "Alleluia."  It still gives me chill bumps when I think about that wonderful experience of worship that we shared.