Reader’s Guide: “The Word for Today” Friday, December 28, 2012 Read - Luke 1:57-66 The announcement of the birth of John the Baptist to his father, Zechariah, sounded a lot like the announcement of the birth of Jesus to Mary. The stories are parallel to one another. The one great difference is in the response of the hearer. Mary’s response was one of pure faith – she trusts God and is willing to do whatever God is asking of her. Zechariah doubts God and the result of his doubt is that he is made mute until the birth of the child he does not think will come. Is this punishment for Zechariah? Maybe, but it also could simply be the giving of a sign to him that the birth of this child is really special. He needed a sign and God gave him one. Without the sign Zechariah’s doubt may have persisted. With the sign he knows that God keeps his word. Perhaps it is better to think of his being mute as something of a gift rather than a punishment. Maybe God treats us that way at times too. We need wisdom to receive the gifts God gives.