“Fulfilled at Their Proper Time” by Melanie Rigney

“Fulfilled at Their Proper Time” by Melanie Rigney

Tuesday of the Third Week of Advent

An angel of the LORD appeared to the woman and said to her, "Though you are barren and have had no children, yet you will conceive and bear a son. Now, then, be careful to take no wine or strong drink and to eat nothing unclean. As for the son you will conceive and bear, no razor shall touch his head, for this boy is to be consecrated to God from the womb. It is he who will begin the deliverance of Israel from the power of the Philistines." (Judges 13:3-5)

My mouth shall be filled with your praise, and I will sing your glory! (Psalm 71:8)

Then Zechariah said to the angel, "How shall I know this? For I am an old

Alexander Andreyevich Ivanov [Public domain],
via Wikimedia Commons(Image credit)

man, and my wife is advanced in years." And the angel said to him in reply, "I am Gabriel, who stand before God. I was sent to speak to you and to announce to you this good news. But now you will be speechless and unable to talk until the day these things take place because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled at their proper time." Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and were amazed that he stayed so long in the sanctuary. But when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He was gesturing to them but remained mute. (Luke 1:18-22)

Piety

Jesus, as the father of the boy with convulsions, said to You, “I do believe, help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24).

Study

Sometimes, the good news is easy to see. We fall in love. The baby is born healthy. We get that promotion. The bid on the house of our dreams is accepted. The frightening diagnosis turns out to have been erroneous. The big event goes off without a hitch and everyone is happy.

But our earthly lives are also filled with other news: news that appears to be challenging. News that is challenging. The baby’s delivery goes bad due to human error, and he or she doesn’t make it through the delivery. The diagnosis was right. Someone else gets the job, the house, the car, the love.

But somewhere inside of those tragedies and disappointments, the Good News lives. It can be hard to find, but it’s there, just as the Lord delivered Samson’s mother from her barrenness when it suited His plan, just as Zechariah’s speech was restored when the things foretold had taken place. The less we understand about God, the greater the opportunity to surrender to His will. And that, after all, is what we are called to do: Believe in His goodness and love, and reflect that confident belief even in the hardest of situations.

Action

Spend time with a trusted friend, spiritual adviser, or priest discussing a disappointment you’re having difficulty letting go of. Ask for help in getting unstuck and trusting in the Lord.