Misa de Gallo Reflection Day 4

Luke 1:5-25 Today we hear the story of Zechariah and Elizabeth, and the birth of John the Baptist. In this reading there are echoes of the angel’s announcement to Mary that she would bear a child. An angel of God appears to Zechariah as he was praying in the sanctuary of God. Sinabi ng Anghel na siya ay magkakaroon ng anak na lalaki. Zechariah is very troubled by the angel’s message. For many years Elizabeth and Zechariah had longed for a child and they had never received that gift. Na kung kaylan sila naging matanda, ngayon lang nagyari ang ganitong biyaya ng Dios sa buhay nila. Yet standing before him was an angel telling Zechariah that Elizabeth in her old age would conceive. The angel also prophesied that this child would be filled with the Holy Spirit and their son would be a prophet, one who would prepare the way for the “One” who would come. Naturally, Zechariah was very skeptical. Yes, siya ay lubhang nag aalinlangan. He doubted the angel’s message. Pagkatapos ay tinanong ni Zacarias ang anghel kung paano ito mangyayari na sila ni Elizabeth ay matagal nang lampas sa mga taon ng panganganak. Ngunit hindi natuwa ang anghel sa hindi paniniwala at pag-aalinlangan ni Zacarias. In response, the angel announced that since Zechariah did not believe the angel’s message, Zechariah would be unable to speak until all these happenings came to pass! Yes, hindi makakapagsalita si Zacarias hanggang sa mangyari ang lahat ng mga pangyayaring ito! Kaya ang tanong ko ngayon sa inyo, ano kaya ang immediate reaction natin if we received a message like this from an angel, how would we react? Most likely, we also would respond with great disbelief. And we might wonder if we were going crazy. Yet at times, God does act in strange and fantastic ways. Marahil kapag tayo ay hindi naniniwala, baka gusto nating basahin muli ang talatang ito ng Ebanghelyo. Who knows, God may desire for us to do wondrous things in our lives. Will we believe in God? Will we trust? Him. Ano ang sasabihin natin sa kahilingan ng Diyos? Kung (kapag) nangyari ito sa atin, manalangin tayo kina Zacarias at Elizabeth. Sila ay “lalapit sa atin.” Tutulungan nila tayong magtiwala at maniwala na tinatawag tayo ng Diyos! Do you believe that God will fulfill all his promises just as he said? Advent is a time to renew our hope and confidence in God's faithfulness to the covenant he made with his people. In preparing the way for a Savior, Like John the Baptist we are called by God to bring hope and deliverance at a time of spiritual darkness and difficulty for the people of God. In tagalog, naniniwala ka ba na tutuparin ng Diyos ang lahat ng kanyang mga pangako gaya ng sinabi niya? Ang Adbiyento ay panahon ng pagpapanibago ng ating pag-asa at pagtitiwala sa katapatan ng Diyos sa tipan na ginawa niya sa kanyang mga tao. Sa paghahanda ng daan para sa isang Tagapagligtas, Tulad ni Juan Bautista (remember sa Gospel natin noong day 1 ng Simbang gabi?) tinawag tayo ng Diyos upang magdala ng pag-asa at pagpapalaya sa panahon ng espirituwal na kadiliman at kahirapan para sa bayan ng Diyos. Let us Pray: Lord Jesus, you bring hope and restoration to your people. Restore and strengthen Christian family life today. Tulungan mo akong mahalin at pagsilbihan ang aking pamilya. Nawa'y maghari ang iyong pag-ibig sa lahat ng aking mga relasyon at alisin ang anumang mga hadlang sa kapayapaan at pagkakaisa. Ito ang aming samo’t dalangin sa ngalan ni Hesus, Amen   / gerrycabije