November 29, 2021 "Two-fer"

As I pondered the advent entry for Monday 11/29 I found myself with a slew of questions. Here’s my stream of consciousness:

What was Zechariah’s prayer? Why would he be afraid? How was his prayer heard? How do we pray? How does God “hear” our prayers? Does God acknowledge, receive, accept, and/or respond to our prayers? If Zechariah’s prayer was “for acceptance and peace” as the author suggests it might have been, was letting go of his desire for a son, giving him the peace he needed to receive God’s answer to his prayer?

Are our prayers specific requests? Or are our prayers simply sitting in the presence of God’s steadfast love? (And listening to O magnum Mysteriem -- an all time favorite of mine). And having felt that love, respond by sharing it? Are we afraid of encountering God’s love because more will be asked of us than we want to give?

Are our prayers for acceptance and peace? What brings us inner peace and does that peace shine forth from us to the world? When will that peace come? Do we try to control God with our prayers or do we share God’s love and wait for it to work in God’s own time?

In the story, the angel Gabriel tells Zechariah, “Now because you did not believe [e.g., trust me/have faith in] my words which will be fulfilled in their time, you will become mute, unable to speak until the days these things occur.” Zechariah was no longer able to share God’s word by speaking it. Are we unable to share God’s love when we haven’t allowed ourselves to experience it?

Later the story says that Zechariah has accepted God’s name for his son, John, and could speak again. In accepting God’s love do we become able to share it without fear?

In her book On the Mystery: Discerning Divinity in Process, Catherine Keller writes of our “planet saturated, for all its suffering, with steadfast love.” It’s like a warm blanket wrapped around us whenever and wherever we are. If only we could experience it more fully, then maybe we need not be afraid?

Awe-inspiring is a good word. There is so much in the Christmas stories that leave us with a sense of awe. To know that God listens and cares for our needs while at the same time caring for those of the world, even to the point of working miracles for us personally as well as intertwining all these works to do good for all. Amazing! Awesome! Mysterious - in a good way.

There is a piece of Christmas music titled O Magnum Mysterium - O Great Mystery.

It is an old work and I can't even understand the words because they are in Latin. But it doesn't matter. It is so beautiful, just listening leaves me with a sense of awe at the mystery of what took place years ago. Just listening leaves me with a sense of wonder and peace and oneness with the creator. Just listening leads me to marvel at the mystery of what God can and still does do, for me personally and for all humankind.

How humbling, awe-inspiring, and reassuring I found this reading to be! While God is attending to the "big picture," He is simultaneously addressing our individual needs and concerns. Not only does He care for us, but He may be using our personal situations as threads in the intricate weaving of the tapestry of all humankind. If He can do all that, then, surely, I should be able to rest in His care without being afraid.

Still, has anyone else ever felt that trusting God and following His direction in our lives would be easier if an angel would show up and tell us what's going on and specifically what we are supposed to do? Is there a pattern to when He does that?