Advent Reflection

By Debby Giusti
O come, O come, Emmanuel…
The daily scripture passages during Advent set the stage for the birth of the Christ Child as we draw closer to Christmas. Today’s reading—Luke 1:5-25—focuses on Zechariah, who goes to the Temple in Jerusalem to perform his priestly duties and is chosen by a drawing of lots to burn incense before the Lord. Zechariah was well-aware of the great honor he was being accorded as he entered the Holy of Holies, yet when the angel Gabriel appears with news that Zechariah’s wife Elizabeth, thought to be barren, will bear a son, Zechariah doubts the angel’s message could be true. Because of his lack of faith, Zechariah is struck dumb until the birth of his son, John the Baptist, the one who will “prepare the way for the Lord.”  Annunciation of the Angel to Zechariah, by Domenico Ghirlandaio,
1490, fresco in the Tornabuoni Chapel, Florence. [PD-US]
Tomorrow’s scripture is the annunciation when Gabriel appears to Mary. In contrast to Zachariah’s doubt, we read in Luke 1:26-38 of Mary’s total faith and her immediate yes—her fiat or “let it be done”—as she readily accepts God’s will for her life with the words, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word."
The Annunciation, Carravagio, 1608.
Museum of Fine Art of Nancy, France. [PD-US]
The question for us to ponder is our readiness to accept the Lord’s will for our own lives. Are we like Zechariah, unable to believe that God will grant us the desire of our heart? Or are we like Mary, eager to accept God’s will even when we don’t have a clear picture of how the future will unfold?  Nativity, Sandro Botticelli, c 1473-1475, Columbia
Museum of Art. [PS-US]
What about our writing journey? Have we given up on following our dream for publication because of our age or our commitments or our inability to believe that with God all things are possible? Are we frustrated by rejection and tired of never having our stories achieve recognition? Have we settled for good enough instead of working to become a better writer? A bestselling author? A world-acclaimed author?
Adoration of the Shepherds, Matthias Stomer, c 1632-1635, North Carolina
Museum of Art. [PD-US]
Or do we trust the Lord enough to follow our dream? Do we shrug off rejection and use it as a catalyst to spur us on? Are we focused on the future with all the promise it holds, instead of wallowing in the unfulfilled past?
Consider the following…
           What’s stopping you from achieving your goal? What’s holding you back from taking the next step forward? Are you a Zachariah? Or are you a Mary?
The Adoration of the Magi, Giotto, 1303, Scrovegni Chapel,
Padua, Italy. [PD-US]
Share your thoughts about Advent and/or your writing journey to be entered in a drawing for the first three books in my Amish Protectors series: Amish Refuge, Undercover Amish and Amish Rescue!



Wishing you a very Merry Christmas!
With abundant blessings and much love,Debby Giustiwww.DebbyGiusti.com
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