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It only takes a minute to sign up. Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search. But Zachariah wants proof. I am an old man and my wife is well along in years. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. It's evident from the text that Zachariah is punished because he "did not believe. Why not blindness?
Or a limp? What correlation, if any, does this punishment have with Zachariah's act of questioning Gabriel's message? Many commentators reflect on the muteness was both a sign and punishment. For example, R.
Stein comments as follows. Zechariah graciously was given a sign as an aid to faith even though the sign also was a rebuke for lack of faith. However, the specific purpose of the muteness appears to have been to vacate Zechariah's ability to serve in the Temple until the child was born.
That is, the punishment was to disqualify Zechariah from Temple ministry as a Levite. Lightfoot comments as follows. The Rabbins deliver; the priests upon any blemish are unfit; as for their years they are not unfit; the Levites for their years may be unfit, but by reason of blemish are not. From that which is said, that at the age of fifty years they shall cease waiting, we learn that years may make the Levites unfit. Perhaps the priests also are made unfit through years: and indeed, does it not seem in equity, that if the Levites, whom a blemish doth not make unfit, should yet be made unfit by superannuation, should not much more the priests be made unfit by superannuation, when even a spot or blemish will make them unfit?
But the text saith, This is the law of the Levites; not, This is the law of the priests. The Rabbins deliver: What time a priest comes to maturity, till he grow old, he is fit to minister; and yet a spot or blemish makes him unfit. The Levite from his thirtieth to his fiftieth year is fit for service; but being superannuated, he becomes unfit. How must this be understood concerning the Levites? To wit, for that time wherein the ark was in the wilderness: but at Shiloh and in the Temple they were not rendered unfit, unless through the defect of their voice See Bemidbar Rab.
In other words, Zechariah was unable to give the required public benediction and blessing to the people as part of the Temple service cf. Num , and therefore Zechariah was disqualified from such service with such physiological handicaps cf. Lev and Lev In fact, the text appears to show that Zechariah was also deaf, since others had to "sign" words to him Luke The Babylonian Talmud also has numerous references to the incapacitation of deaf-mutes in serving and participating in the Synagogue.
Finally, when Zechariah was able to talk at the birth of his son John , he had "prophesied" that his son John was be a prophet. The implication here is that one who prophesies that is, one who is not incapacitated by "muteness"--read: lack of belief in the Words of God is therefore to be the faithful servant of the Lord.
Lightfoot, J. But I would say the two most probable explanations are these:. Zechariah was already an old man, and probably therein had some health issues. For example, it wouldn't make sense to strike him deaf because if he wasn't already deaf, he was probably near to it. This is evidenced because he came out of the Temple signing, but later, in verse 62, they are signing to him :.
This same thought process could go for most other physical ailments. I don't think it would surprise anyone that a man described as "very old" [verse 7] had some issues with walking.
At Christmas Mass, as well as on the solemnity of the Annunciation, Catholics are directed to kneel at the words in the creed referring to the incarnation. The purpose of this gesture is to emphasize the profound mystery that God who is eternal and infinite took a human nature and lived among us.
Charles Pope is the pastor of Holy Comforter-St. Cyprian in Washington, D. Send questions to msgrpope osv. Did you enjoy this article?
Subscribe now. Send feedback to us at oursunvis osv. Customer Service. Renew Your Subscription. Pay Your Bill. Change of Address. New Subscription. Perhaps he gifted a car to you, or he helped to pay for your education, or he took care of an unexpected medical bill. This friend has shown you only kindness. He has always been faithful and good towards you. Is that the moment to doubt?
Is that the moment to ask to see his bank and business accounts so you can be sure he can cover the cost? To want proof would be to deny his ability to pay or the sincerity of his care for you. Given everything you know about this friend, and given all the ways he has already provided, doubting his word would be very wrong — a grave insult. Now, his angel — one who makes it clear that he stands in the presence of God and has been sent to speak to Zechariah — that angel is promising him his wife will conceive and have a son with a very special future.
And Zechariah questions? That is an unwarranted question to put to God. Zechariah has no reason to doubt God, and no reason to doubt that Gabriel has been sent by God. Gideon was guilty in a similar way. After God had already spoken with Gideon, shown him signs, and begun to use him to turn people away from false gods, then — despite the remarkable ways in which God had proved he was with him — Gideon tested God.
He laid out a wool fleece on the ground and asked for the miracle that only the fleece would be wet with dew while the ground was dry. It happened. But that was not enough for Gideon. Gideon asked God to do the miracle again but in reverse, that he would make the fleece dry while all the ground was wet, and that happened too Judges God was very patient, but God should never be tested.
Doubt is a normal human reaction when faced with the seemingly impossible. Doubt which asks questions is usually healthy. There was nothing wrong with that question.
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