give me grace
As I reflect on today’s readings, many emotions and some questions emerge. Although they offer two stories with similar endings, they differ because of how the main characters respond.
In the first story, an unnamed woman, who has never been pregnant, explains to her husband her experience of being visited by an angel who tells her she will conceive and bear a son who will be consecrated by God in her womb and go on to do great things.
Why is the husband named and the wife not named? Why is she referred to as “the wife”? She was the one visited by the angel, and from what we read, she accepted what the angel said with no reservations.
The second story carries a similar theme: a long-time barren couple discovers they will have a son. Only this time, the angel appears to the man, Zechariah, to tell him that his wife Elizabeth will bear a son who will be “great in the sight of the Lord.” It is good to see the woman named along with her husband.
Zechariah questions the angel and is struck dumb for his disbelief. I feel badly for Zechariah. His question, “How shall I know this? I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years,” seems logical rather than challenging.
My prayer is muddled and leaves me with questions, so I pray: God, grant me the wisdom to listen to you as the unnamed woman did and give me the patience to wait for the Holy Spirit to enlighten those who make decisions about women in my church. There are too many silent (unnamed) women doing your work.
Give me the grace to know when to speak, when to question and when to simply listen.
Anne Hansen