Good morning and welcome to today’s Advent Moment reflection with the Oblate Family on Friday December 19th by Veronica Conlon. Today we have the well-known account of the visit of an angel to the priest Zechariah, husband of Mary’s cousin Elizabeth. Zechariah is informed by the angel that his wife will give birth to a son and they should name him John.  This was an answer to their prayer. However Zechariah was struck dumb and would not regain his voice until the birth of the baby. He was compelled to wait in silence.  Angels appear at very significant moments in people’s lives as we shall see in the readings of the next two days. They are messengers from God. Angels remind us of the spiritual part of our lives where God wants to be heard. As we wait for Christmas let us be open to the many ways that God wishes to enter into our lives. Maybe between now and Christmas  we can make an effort to take some time in silent contemplation in front of the crib. A prayer by Joyce Rupp God of hope, come!  Enter into the lives all of those I hold dear, the ones whose lives are marked with pain, struggle and anxiety… Come and gift them with a deep belief about you and your never-ending faithfulness and companionship. Amen. Thank you for joining us this morning.  (Taken from Out of the Ordinary 2000 by Joyce Rupp.  Used by permission of Ave Maria Press. All rights reserved.)