Some of the worst moments in our lives are when our ability to speak for ourselves has been taken away. It can be hard to endure this useless banter against us and our good names. Not being able to speak up against those who have a problem with us and our deeds. Zechariah's use of voice was taken away from him. He was unable to speak up against those who questioned his child being named John. "Why would Elizabeth want her child to be named John. Has she gone mad because nobody in her family has been named thus. This family will be the laughing stock of this town for such a name." Zechariah heard these remarks and he was unable to cry out in defense of his wife. It had to be difficult to sick back and endure what was going on around him.
These people then approached Zechariah to question him for this name. He could tell what they wanted of him, but he knew what he had to endure for God. Unable to speak up in his defense he grabbed a tablet and simple wrote: "John is his name!" Finally Zechariah's voice returned, but instead of lashing out to these people he proclaimed words which blessed God. In this silent moment's of pain he was defenseless against his arbitrators, but this allowed him the time to spend in silence with God.
Let us fear not in serving our Lord. Let us fear not when we are attacked for the service that we give. Fearing not if we are able to speak up in order to save our name. Let us understand that these horrible moments give way to spending time with God in prayer. Through prayer we will fearlessly be led forward to prepare the way for the Lord. We will be like John the Baptist who was born in order to prepare the way for the coming of Christ. He did not always have it easy, but this was his mission. Let us fear not those who question our deeds unjustly, but only place our trust in the Eucharist that we will soon receive for it will lead us in our mission of preparing the way of the Lord to the world around us.
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