DAILY HOMILIES #Zechariah

In John the Baptist, we learn that no human life comes into existence randomly. God does the selection, arrangement, and planning. We existed in God’s mind even before we were formed in our mother’s womb. Psalm 139:13 says: “For it was you who formed my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother's womb.”

Let us learn to be silent, even if it is just for a few minutes every day. And as we celebrate Christmas, it would help to play Zechariah by taking time for quiet reflection.

Dear friends, if God knows our name before birth, he knew about us when we were formed in our mother’s womb. Abortion is the greatest act of man’s inhumanity to his fellow man. By killing an unborn baby, we deny them the chance to live out God’s plans. No justification exists for taking anyone’s life, even if it is just a day old in the womb.

Silence helps to refine our hearts. For instance, we tend to listen more when we are silent, we tend to hear more and understand life better, we get to see the bigger picture and we get to look beyond our immediate problems. If God forced Zachariah to be silent, how much more would we profit if we decide to embark on silence voluntarily.

The people wondered: “What will this child turn out to be?” This is the same question we should ask ourselves each time we come across little children. Every child deserves respect, care and love because you can never know what the future of that child would be. This little baby you see today may one day be your life-saver.

As we celebrate Christmas, let us join Zechariah to sing songs of thanksgiving to God, let us join David to express thanks to God for all that God has done for us. In whatever way we can, let us end this year not on a note of complaining but on a note of thanksgiving. Let the song of Zechariah become our chorus.

Once he gained his power of speech again, Zechariah knew this was no ordinary child. He knew at once that this was not merely a product of his body but the work of God. He knew immediately that this child was the one spoken of by the prophet Malachi as the “messenger to prepare the way before me.” (Today’s first reading). Zechariah opened his mouth to sing a song of thanksgiving.

Re-awaken your faith, begin to trust again, let your delayed prayers become an opportunity to trust less in yourself and in your own abilities that you may know that God alone deserves all the credit for everything good in your life.