Luke 1:5-25 Zechariah
and Elizabeth
In
the days of King Herod of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, who
belonged to the priestly order of Abijah. His wife was a descendant of Aaron,
and her name was Elizabeth. Both of them were righteous before God, living
blamelessly according to all the commandments and regulations of the Lord. But
they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were getting on in
years. Once when he was serving as priest before God and his section was on
duty, he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter
the sanctuary of the Lord and offer incense. Now at the time of the incense
offering, the whole assembly of the people was praying outside. Then there
appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing at the right side of the altar
of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was terrified; and fear overwhelmed him.
But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has
been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him
John. You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for
he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He must never drink wine or strong
drink; even before his birth he will be filled with the Holy Spirit. He will
turn many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. With the spirit and
power of Elijah he will go before him, to turn the hearts of parents to their
children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to make ready a
people prepared for the Lord.” Zechariah said to the angel, “How will I know
that this is so? For I am an old man, and my wife is getting on in years.” The
angel replied, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been
sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. But now, because you did
not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time, you will become
mute, unable to speak, until the day these things occur.” Meanwhile the people
were waiting for Zechariah, and wondered at his delay in the sanctuary. When he
did come out, he could not speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a
vision in the sanctuary. He kept motioning to them and remained unable to
speak. When his time of service was ended, he went to his home. After those
days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she remained in
seclusion. She said, “This is what the Lord has done for me when he looked
favorably on me and took away the disgrace I have endured among my people.”
****
Zechariah and Zachariah were
common names in my mother’s family - not something most people can say. We even
have a portrait of one of them and a jug used in the field as they worked their
crops. Today’s Zechariah is an object lesson to me. He listens to the Lord when
others are certain they have the answer. Like Mary and Joseph, he questions the
Lord and is given assurances that he finds amusing, much like Sarah’s disbelief
of her ability to bear Isaac. Yet, Zechariah is given an uncomfortable
adjustment: he cannot speak until the promised child is born. When his tongue
is loosed, he affirms the name God has instructed him to give the baby. He has
learned through his forced silence to forebear and await the salvation of his
God.
Impossible births are common
object lessons in Scripture. Abraham and Sarah, Hannah, Zechariah and
Elizabeth, Mary alone, Nicodemus learning how to be reborn. Rebirth and
renaming are hallmarks of a redirected life: Saul becomes Paul, Simon becomes
Peter, Jacob becomes Israel. Our new life in the Spirit warrants an entirely
new identity. We have this opportunity every day, but especially in Advent and
Lent. We await the coming of Christ in our hearts. His coming is not only
promised. It is fulfilled. Jesus says he stands at the door and knocks. We must
be willing to open to Him just as Zechariah and Elizabeth accepted this
impossibility. Zechariah’s struggle is not a punishment. It’s an opportunity to
grow in faith.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, may we be so earnestly willing to receive your
Son that our tongues are unloosed that we may sing praises unshackled and set
free. Amen.
Franklyn Commisso is Minister of
Music at Trinity Lutheran Church, Brewster, NY
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