The figure of Zacharias.

Maybe you too, looking at a memorial plaque or a statue of a great personality from any area, have thought: Who were their parents, how did they live, what did they do to make their child famous? We know very little about the parents of famous personalities, we often learn about them only marginally, and yet it often depended on them what would become of their son or daughter.

This idea also became relevant when reading today’s Gospel, which tells us about Zacharias making a sacrifice and meeting the angel Gabriel, who announces the good news to him. The forerunner of the Lord Jesus – John the Baptist, after his father and mother, came from the descendants of Aaron, from the priestly family, which enjoyed the greatest respect among the Jews. When a woman did not have a child, it was understood as a punishment from God for her and the entire family. Elizabeth and Zacharias also met this fate. However, both were righteous before God and kept all the Lord’s commandments and statutes blamelessly. Elizabeth and Zacharias were already at an advanced age. Zacharias was shown by the lot that he should enter the sanctuary and offer an incense offering on the golden altar. It was a great honor for Zacharias because he represented the whole nation at this ceremony. Zacharias was aware of this honor. He was certainly overcome with excitement. It’s also time when the nation asks for the coming of the Messiah. The hated Romans are expanding in their nation. The nation is more aware than ever before that only the Messiah can deliver it from this sad state. Zacharias is aware of his old age, the years of his wife, and the fact that the Messiah will not come from their womb. In his younger years, he hoped that God would hear his prayers. But even now he is asking for the coming of the future Messiah. He also has this in mind with the incense offering he wants to make.

Let’s remember that David divided the priests into 24 classes when establishing the Old Testament service. Each served a week in the temple. The lottery was used to decide who and what kind of service would be performed in their class. One of the priests entered the sanctuary every morning and evening and burned sacrificial incense there for the so-called golden altars. Zacharias also performed this service.

During this sacrifice, an angel announced to him the birth of a son. Instead of believing immediately, Zacharias thinks only of the obstacles that nature has put in the way of these words: infertility, and old age. And yet a thought of hope flashed through his mind! After all, how many similar births does the nation know? After all, the mothers of Isaac, Samson, and Samuel were in advanced age and gave birth to sons. But despite this, Zacharias asks the angel: “By what do I know it? After all, I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in age!” The angel answered him: I am Gabriel. I stand before God and I am sent to speak to you and to tell you this glad tidying. But you will be dumb and will not be able to speak until the day when this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time” (Lk 1,18-20).

The people were waiting for Zacharias and were surprised that he was staying so long in the temple. Zechariah did not do anything wrong by asking for a sign. However, he made a mistake in not immediately believing the heavenly messenger. It was a lack of respect for the archangel and the one who sent him. He received a sign, which became his punishment for expressing disbelief, and therefore became speechless. The act was supposed to last only a short time, so the crowd wondered why he was staying so long in the temple. but when he came out and could not speak, the multitude understood that he had seen a vision in the temple. He made signs and remained mute. As soon as the days of his priestly service were over, he returned home.

After these days, his wife Elizabeth conceived, but she hid for five months, saying: “This is what the Lord did to me at the time when he looked down on me to save me from the shame of men” (Lk 1:25).

When we already know the parents and circumstances of the birth of the greatest prophet of the Old Testament, let’s let these words affect our hearts. Our lives are not unknown to God either. He also created us in this time and these events, and he also has a plan for us. Let us not doubt him, lest something similar to Zacharias befall us, who for his weak faith befell both punishment and joy. Let the thought always burn in us: always and everywhere to live in the presence of God and fulfill his commands. It is often very difficult. But let’s know that with God everything is possible. He desires our faithfulness in fulfilling his will. And we, instructed by Zechariah, want to answer God in the affirmative. We don’t expect him to send us a messenger from heaven and teach us about our life, and what we should and shouldn’t do. For that, we have the teaching of the Church, which we want to listen to.

Parents of famous people remain in the shadow of their children’s fame and enjoy it. Let’s do something similar. Let us rejoice in the glory of our Redeemer Jesus Christ, for whose birth we are preparing.