Thoughts for the Day

The Birth of John the Baptist Foretold

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 favourably on me and took away the disgrace I have endured among my people.’

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

During Advent we shall look at the people, places and symbols that invite us to prepare for the coming of the Christ-child at Christmas. They will not necessarily occur in the right order! Today we look at 'Zechariah' .

There are a number of amazing things in today's reading.

1. Zechariah is not the Prophet who lived five centuries before in Babylon. This Zechariah lives in Judaea in the 1st century CE.
2. There has been no Prophet for hundreds of years - no visions, no dreams, no angels, no word from God - until now.
3. We learn that he is a priest. All male members descended from Aaron were automatically priests and there were some 20,000 of them. They could only marry a woman of "pure lineage" like Elizabeth who was also a descendant of Aaron.
4. We learn they were chosen because they were "righteous". Righteousness comes through having faith in God and is shown in someone's life through worship and helping God's people.
5. We learn they were childless and elderly. But like other women before them God was to intervene.

This whole incident is so ordinary in one way. Zechariah has had the honour of being chosen to offer incense in the sanctuary. The people were praying and waiting for him to give them a blessing. But suddenly the Angel Gabriel appears, and he is subsequently struck dumb. He will only be able to speak when he accepts the prophecy is true - when John the Baptist the 'Forerunner' is born.

Lord God,
Your plans are so much more
than we can understand,
we can only marvel at the way
You invite us to participate in them.
Keep us awake and listening
for Your still, small, voice
that invites us to step forward.
Keep us ready to notice
where Your Spirit of love is at work,
and help us be ready to join in.
Amen.