O Root of Jesse's Stem

Today's readings give us the stories of the conception of Samson and the conception of John the Baptist:  both to elderly and "barren" women. (cf. Jdg. 13:2-25 and Lk 1: 5-25).  Nothing is impossible with God and he carries out his plan in simple, yet spectacular ways.  The angel Gabriel tells the skeptical Zechariah that he will be mute until the child is born.  This is not a punishment, but a gift:  "silence is golden" goes the old proverb. Zechariah is forced into 9 months of silence to ponder the mystery of which he was a major part. 
Today's "O Antiphon" makes reference to the Root of Jesse's stem...the offspring of King David's father Jesse.  This distant offspring of the root had centuries to grow and  develop until he emerged as Jesus, "the sign of God's love to all people". Silence and time, both hard to find these days, but above all it is precisely these days that need a good dose of each.  How else do we become fruitful bearers of the Good News?  How else do we come to simplify our understanding and execution of God's plan?  How else do we fathom the mystery of Emmanuel?  Let us plan to take time to mute our lives, to ponder, so that we might more fully appreciate what we celebrate on December 25th.
O Root of Jesse's stem,/ sign of God's love for all his people,/ come to save us without delay!"
Bro. Rene