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ADVENT REFLECTION

Zechariah’s vision is the theme for our reflection. A vision is something seen in a dream, trance, or religious ecstasy, especially a supernatural appearance that usually conveys a revelation. Zachariah’s vision has two important messages. Firstly, he received the good news of having his biological son who shall be named John and secondly, he received the good news of the advent of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Dear friend, the announcement of our Lord Jesus Christ’s coming made the impossible possible. We are told that both Zecharia and Elizabeth “were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years. (Luke 1:6-7). However, on that fateful day, when the Angel appeared before Zechariah to give him the good news the world has been anticipating, Zecharia and Elizabeth had their prayer for a child answered. Their child was not going to be an ordinary child, John will be a special child. The Angel told Zechariah “you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his (John’s) birth, for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.” (Luke 1:14-17).

Zechariah’s vision, again teaches us that those who wait upon the Lord shall not be disappointed. Through Zechariah’s vision, we learn that he and his wife have fervently and expectantly been praying for a child and in God’s own time their prayer was answered. “And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. (Luke 1:11-13) Beloved in the Lord, I do not know what your heart desire is and what you have been praying and patiently waiting for all these years, month and days but be rest assured that just as Zechariah and Elizabeth had waited upon the Lord in prayer and faith and their prayer was answered, you will also experience a supernatural visitation from the Lord if you hold onto your faith and look up to Him in prayers. Remember, it took years of waiting but it was only in one day that they had their prayer answered. How often do you wait on the Lord in prayer? How strong is your faith in the Lord? Do you believe in the fact that God’s timing is the best? The Prophet Isaiah further assures us that the Lord “… gives power to the faint,
and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted, but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:29-31). May the Lord visit you in this Advent season with awesome good news even as we prepare to commemorate the birth of Christ on Christmas day and also in anticipation of His second coming. Always remember this reassuring words from Paul when he wrote that “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7) Shalom.

PRAYER

Holy Spirit, may this Advent season of prayer and waiting upon the Lord bring us good tidings of joy, hope, peace and prosperity. We prayer for the renewal and deepening of our relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ during the Advent season. Amen.