Thirty Sixth Day of Lent - Speechlessness

Balaam and his Donkey,
J Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles

Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I know that what you say is true? I am an old man, and my wife is old, too.” 

The angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. I stand before God, who sent me to talk to you and to tell you this good news.  Now, listen! You will not be able to speak until the day these things happen, because you did not believe what I told you. But they will really happen.” Luke 1: 18-20

I love these verses.  They say to me 'now let's be serious.'

Here is another:-

When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, it lay down under Balaam, and he was angry and beat it with his staff. Then the Lord opened the donkey’s mouth, and it said to Balaam, ‘What have I done to you to make you beat me these three times?’

Balaam answered the donkey, ‘You have made a fool of me! If only I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you here and now.’

The donkey said to Balaam, ‘Am I not your own donkey, which you have always ridden, to this day? Have I been in the habit of doing this to you?’

‘No,’ he said.

Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with his sword drawn. So he bowed low and fell face down. Numbers 22:21-38

I like the idea that Balaam is so incensed with his poor animal that he is not taken aback when it speaks to him.  

So it's speechless clergy, and speaking donkey.  Quite extraordinary!

PRAYER:  May I believe you first time, and may you not have to get the animals around me to open my eyes to your presence.