Daily Seasonal Reflections
Thursday of the Third Week of Advent
Fr. Trey Nelson
                                   
 
“Then Zechariah said to the angel, ‘How shall I know this? For I am an old 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.’” (From Luke 15-25)
 
 
Jesus said a lot of things, but he never said, “Do not doubt.”  I remember hearing this reading as a child and thinking Zechariah got a bad rap.  I would have probably reacted as he did..   A lot of people, young and old, think doubt is a sin.  My honest understanding and conviction is that is it not.  The Lord understands more than anyone our doubts and questions.   He does not curse us or our doubts but blesses us.  The more honest we can be with our feelings about God, faith, religion, and all of it, the more we can grow.
 
As we continue through these final days of Advent, know that it is totally fine to have doubts at times.  The key thing is this, however: talk with someone about it.   Name your doubt and entrust it to God.   Maybe you are having trouble understanding why your life is going like it is. Maybe you look out there at the world and wonder where it is all going.  Maybe you are angry or disappointed in things and people—and even disappointed with God.  Just know this: the Lord loves you.  Period.   All he asks of us, in those moments, is to take a deep breath and live life one day at a time.
 
I know these words may not be helpful. Sometimes I feel like Zechariah, thinking, “OK, God, I never thought things would go this way or that. But I know you love me through  it all.”
 
As we come before the Lord in our prayer and reflection, simply be okay with your feelings, whatever they are.  Doubt it not a sin.  Just be honest about that, and have the conversation with someone you trust.  
 
The message of Advent is, “God is with us.”   God is with us, even in our moments of doubt.