[ Today's Readings ]
Then Zechariah said to the angel,
“How shall I know this?
Zechariah should be able to trust the LORD. He knows that the history of Israel is replete with examples of the barren giving birth. From Sarah and Abraham on it is a regular theme. When the birth of Samson is foretold we even hear similar words from an angel announcing it.
for this boy is to be consecrated to God from the womb.
Maybe this precedence is what scares Zechariah. Maybe he is afraid of being part of the grand adventure of salvation history. Perhaps he prefers keeping it all at a comfortable distance. But this too should be familiar. God is always using ordinary men and women to bring about his plans.
Just as Zechariah fails to trust the LORD even though the LORD has already proven himself so do we. We read many stories in Scripture and are content as long as they stay on the page. When God's power really is revealed within our own spheres of life we tend to get afraid and draw back and become silent ourselves.
But in contrast to Zechariah we have Mary. She has no idea how the angel's announced plan is possible. But she is willing to trust. She is willing to have it be done to her according to the word of the angel.
When God comes to us with plans that seem to big for us let us look to his word where we can see how faithful he is to his promises. Let us respond like Mary with complete surrender and trust.
For you are my hope, O LORD;
my trust, O God, from my youth.
On you I depend from birth;
from my mother’s womb you are my strength.
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