While we might be used to Advent-Christmas stories being about important biblical women, today, in this last week of the Advent season, we can juxtapose stories about two men from the gospels. We first read about Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, who has an encounter with a messenger of God, while serving at the incense altar in the Temple. The angel gives him a heavenly message that he and his elderly barren wife, Elizabeth, will soon have a male son who would be both a joy to them and a prophet. Zachariah finds this hard to believe and questions the angel. In other words, he asks for a sign, a definite assurance that this really is from God. Zachariah’s punishment for his lack of faith merited him being struck mute.
The other male, found in a similar event, but in Matthew’s gospel, is Joseph who is confused and troubled by Mary, his betrothed, being pregnant – and not by him. The angel appears to him in a dream and invites him to take Mary as his wife as it is by the Holy Spirit that she is found with child. (MT 1:20) Joseph’s reaction here is not one of doubt, suspicion, requesting signs, spouting conspiracy theories or asking questions. Joseph did what the angel told him to do. He says ‘yes’ to the divine plan. It strikes me that the contrast between Zechariah’s response and Joseph’s response contains a basic reminder for us in our relationship and “walk” with the Lord. If we pay attention, God sends us a number of “angels” (some with wings and some without) who mediate God’s message and God’s will. How do we respond? Do we hesitate? Do we fear? Do we doubt? Or do we generously accept what God is telling us or asking of us?
Perhaps what lurks behind our indecisiveness, at times, is our fear that God may ask too much of us or that God may ask us to obey him in ways that we do not understand. Its easy to be open to the Lord as long as God doesn’t demand much from us. That is why the saints of old would say that when we go before the Lord in prayer that we must always go with an attitude and posture of obedience. As we move further into these last days of the Advent season it would be wise for us to keep our focus on St. Joseph, who like Mary, had his own ‘fiat’ moment; where in obedience and faith says ‘yes’ to God without knowing what the ‘yes’ would fully entail. And so, we pray: Come, Flower of Jesse’s stem, sign of God’s love for God’s people. Save us without delay!