Meditation Lk 1,5-25

Stand in God’s presence. God is present here and now, looking upon you with love.

Ask for the Grace: I will beg God our Lord that all my intentions and actions may be directed purely to the praise and service of His Divine Majesty

Fixing a place, a picture for meditation: See the scene of the announcement of the birth of John the Baptist. The angel of the Lord appeared to Zechariah, an elderly man, during his ministry in the sanctuary of the Lord. This situation makes fear and anxiety in Zechariah. The angel sees it and tells him not to be afraid. He announces to Zacharias that his prayers have been heard: his wife will bear him a son. Zacharias is unbelievable, he needs a sign that can confirm, what is being said. This sign is: Zechariah becomes speechless and unable to talk . Where are you in this scene?

Ask for the fruit of meditation: for the desire to submit to God’s action in my life

1. Zechariah probably have been praying for a child for many years. Now when his prayer has been heard, he feels fear. Perhaps God fulfilled the request of Zechariah, but not in time and maybe in a different way than he expected. Why? The hearing of God’s request was so surprising for Zechariah that he needed a special sign, a confirmation of the truth of God’s action. Here we can also suspect that the sign was not exactly as Zechariah would like to get. From God’s perspective, however, everything had the right place and time.
How does God’s action look in your life? What is the openness of your eyes, of your heart to see the gifts of God? What signs do you need to believe that God is with you, he cares for you as his beloved child?

2. Then, when his days of ministry were completed, he went home. After this time his wife Elizabeth conceived…I think it is worth remind the words of Ignatius Loyola: Pray as if everything depends on God, work as if everything depends on you. It is good to ask God for many important matters or for fulfilling whims and waiting for a great miracle sitting on the couch. What’s more, if nothing happens then we like to say: apparently, that is God’s will. But God has provided us with everything that is necessary for us to live. It is enough, as Pope Francis says, to move from the couch to the miracles start to happen. What is your courage to take specific actions in your everyday life and what is your willingness to take full responsibility for your life? Please note that Zechariah came home and then Elizabeth conceived. What actions do you take to make matters, that you ask for, have a solution?

3. Zechariah and Elisabeth will have a son who, as we can read in the gospel: will be great in the sight of the Lord (…), he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord (…), turn  the hearts of fathers towards children (…). We clearly see that John has certain tasks to perform for the glory of God. Therefore, parents are supposed to bring him up not for themselves, but so that he would be able to find God’s will in his life and to fulfill it. Each of us is unique and has specific tasks to fulfill, which no one else can do at the moment ( e.g. it can be a smile to someone who needs it now, a nice word, cooking dinner, watching a movie with family, friends, etc.) . Think about how you look at yourself, your children, other people? How do you see the uniqueness of every human being, what freedom do you give to others and yourself to be unique to live not in your way, but God’s way?

4. I encourage you to contemplate the evangelical scene. Be present in it, hear, feel, experience each and every moment more and stronger. Recognize more and more details using all your senses. Maybe one detail will keep you longer.

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The final conversation: Spend a little time at the end, being with God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit….as you would with a good friend: sometimes talking, sometimes listening, sometimes being together in silence. Speak to God about your feelings. Remember that times when ‘nothing is happening’ can also be significant. When you’re ready, end your prayer by saying thank you or using words that are familiar,such as the Lord’s Prayer (Our Father)–whichever feels right and comfortable. (The Spiritual Exercises No.54)