“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has looked favorably on his people and redeemed them. He has raised up a mighty savior for us in the house of his servant David, as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, that we would be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us. Thus he has shown the mercy promised to our ancestors, and has remembered his holy covenant, the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham, to grant us that we, being rescued from the hands of our enemies, might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation to his people by the forgiveness of their sins. By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
To guide our feet in the way of peace...what a beautiful prayer. Peace that might find space and place in our hearts, our home, and our world. Peace that could surpass understanding and yet embrace/enfold us and hold us. Peace that we would sense and share. Yet, how do you sing a song of peace when the world seems to either not listen or not care? Zechariah sings this song in the time of Roman occupation and oppression. Rome had what was called, the "Pax Romana" or Roman peace. Caesar said he alone was the one who could bring such peace. Yet, Caesar's peace was forged with force of a sword and the fear of a cross. Roman peace was at the expense of individual liberty and expression. All was okay if you did not step out of line or challenge the Caesar. It helps us hear those parts of Zechariah's hymn about 'serving without fear' and 'forgiveness' and 'tender mercy' in a different way.
So the peace of fragile and fought with fear. Zechariah sings of a peace, shalom, that would be well being not only for humans but also for all creation. God's prayer for peace would encompass all of God's handy work. What we start to hear in all three hymns so far is that desire for a world where the lowly are lifted and those who are fringe are embraced in the middle. But such a song challenges the status quo. Such a song is one thing to sing in a church, but we might think, "The world doesn't work that way." Yet, this song of God that has been woven in from the beginning of creation was, is and will be God's deepest dream.
How do you reconcile the melody of these songs with the hymns of world? How do we listen to these words when the headlines and newscasts sing another song...one of sorrow and lament? Living between the two doesn't mean we have to choose one or the other. There is a messy middle space where we can live. Yes, it is chaotic, but it is in the messiness where the creativity of God has tended to thrive and reside. Yes, it is chaotic, but it is in the messiness where there might be something new being fashioned and formed. How do you keep attune to both the songs of the world and the hymns of Elizabeth, Mary, and Zechariah? How can you join in these anthems with your whole life?
I pray you might sense more than a trace of God's grace and guidance in staying open to God's still sing presence in these days which can be found all around us.
Blessings ~~
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