Advent Week 1: Zechariah
FROM THE DESK OF TL1 ASSISTANT FACILITATOR, CONRAD MCKENZIE
This Advent reflection is part one of our four-part Advent reflection series for 2025 written by one of our four assistant facilitators. We invited each facilitator to choose a character from the story of Jesus’ birth that they resonated with on the journey. We hope each one provides you with beautiful starting points for reflecting with God in this season & perhaps encourages you to ponder which character in the Nativity story you feel drawn to as well.
P.S. If you are finding these outside of the Advent season, enjoy! They are wonderful reflections in all times of the year.
It is safe to say that we all have come face to face with disappointment- whether it is having a dream die or a hope disappear. Oftentimes that which we hope for can be good! And when these hopes do not come to fruition we learn something significant, that hope requires you to open your heart to potential pain. I have felt this ache before, having to part ways with a longing or to release expectations for others, myself, and even God. Having felt this pain, I also know the reflex of protecting myself, growing sceptical and engaging life in such a way to minimize opportunities to experience those disappointments again.
In the first chapter of Luke we see a man who we can imagine has had his fair share of disappointment, but he has held it with a heart of devotion. Zechariah was a priest, advanced in years by the time we meet him in this Gospel retelling. He and his wife Elizabeth were both blameless in the Lord’s sight, living lives of devotion to YHWH. He out of all the other priests has been selected to carry out the honor of performing the priestly duties in the temple while the rest continue in prayer outside.
What we discover is that he and his wife had dreams of having children that went unfulfilled. You can picture that with each year that passed, hope became harder to hold onto, until they would have made peace with this pain. To them, YHWH has been and always will be good - He remains worthy of devotion.
On this particular day, Zechariah enters the temple, probably having rehearsed all the steps in his mind but he is blindsided by an angelic visitor. Not only is this visitation alarming but he is shocked further by the content of their message. He says to Zechariah, “You and your wife were going to conceive. You’ll have a son, who will be a joy to you and a reason for rejoicing for many. The presence and power of Elijah will be laid on him and he is to play an integral role to prepare the way for the Messiah.”
Those whose lives have been touched by disappointment and discouragement can probably resonate with Zechariah’s response.
“How can I be sure of this?”
In other words, is it safe for me to open my heart to hope again? Or will this result in more pain? We see this self protective reflex leak into this conversation. For Zechariah, he knew the limitations. In his mind, it was impossible.
Pause for Reflection
Are there places in your heart you have guarded from God because of disappointment or discouragement?
What about God or God’s promises are hard to believe in this current season of life?
Spend a moment reflecting with the Holy Spirit.
In response, this being introduces himself as Gabriel, one who stands in the presence of YHWH, one who has been sent here to give you a message of good news. The only proof he offers is the one who sent him and his position before him.
Pause for Reflection
How is God restoring or renewing your view of God?
Spend a moment reflecting with the Holy Spirit.
Gabriel continues saying ”.. because you did not believe and receive this good news you will be silent, unable to speak until you see this come to pass”. Zechariah, in the middle of his priestly duties, was thrust into a practice of silence.
Writers like Dallas Willard and Henri Nouwen highlight that one of the primary ways humans exercise their own control or power is through our language. This can present in simple ways, maybe it is an effort to manipulate perception of ourselves in someone else, or to have our way be obeyed, or even in Zechariah’s case, a means to gain some sort of assurance or control over outcomes.
Pause for Reflection
Is there somewhere God is inviting you to release control in your current season of life?
Spend a moment reflecting with the Holy Spirit.
Closing Prayer
God, we close our mouths and seek to listen. We ask for you to reveal who you are to us again. We release ourselves into your loving care and control- for you have been and always will be good. Amen.