“And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense” (Luke 1:11). The angel Gabriel appeared to an old priest named Zechariah. He and his wife, Elizabeth, had been childless into their old age. The angel told them that they would have a son named John and that he would prepare the people of God for someone even greater. Terrified, Zechariah doubted Gabriel and was struck dumb. But Elizabeth did conceive a son. And when the baby was born, Zechariah wrote on a tablet that his name should be John, and his speech was restored. The appearance of Gabriel was a clue that God was up to something never before seen in human history: He was sending His Son to redeem the world. Advent gives us time to ponder the mystery of God’s plan of redemption—quiet, contemplative time like dumbstruck Zechariah had as he awaited the birth of John. As we await the celebration of Jesus’ birth, we listen to the message of hope that God comes even now to save us.