Click here to read Luke 1:5-25

After an introduction of inviting all the readers to be 'Theophilus" or a lover of God, Luke turns to two less than well known characters in scripture, Zechariah and Elizabeth, aka John the Baptizer's parents.  While many know John, and we will hear more from him in chapter 3, Luke is the only Gospel to record anything about John's lineage and that he did not just drop from the sky into the wilderness (Although it may feel that way when we hear more about John in Luke 3)

From this passage we know a few things: Zechariah is a priest, both he and Elizabeth are getting up there in age, and they have not had a child, specifically a son. In Jesus' time, this was a bit of a scandal.  To not have a child was considered by some a sign of God's displeasure with you.  There was tension here with Zechariah being a priest and yet not having a child.  So, Luke's set up already has some literary conflict intertwined. 

As the narrative deepens, we learn Zechariah is serving at the temple one day and he is chosen to go in and light the incense, which was a privilege.  It was sort of a once in a life time moment, in that most priests got to perform this tasks once.  While in the temple, the angel Gabriel appears.  Gabriel is an angel, and the word "angel" literally means, "a messenger of God." And the message Gabriel wants to share is Zechariah and Elizabeth are about to have that child.

Most of the time this is the place where it will be pointed out how much Zechariah and Elizabeth are like Abraham (also known as Abram) and Sarai (also known as Sarah) from Genesis 15 

While I think that is helpful, I also think it can distance us a bit from the emotional impact of this gospel or good news given to Zechariah.  Most of us know and have experiences of our personal life impacting our professional life.  Most us know and have experiences where the two are in tension or conflict.  And we sort of learn to live with it.  After all we might reason, whatta going do?  And so, to be honest, if an angel came to me with a message that I would never have to attend another evening meeting ever again, I have to be honest that I would be skeptical.  I might echo Zechariah and ask, "How can this be?"  Do you not know the church and its fondness for meetings at night?

I invite you ask yourself what kind of "good news" an angel might bring about your life that you would find hard to believe?  This could be in your job or in your family or in any place in your life.  Because that is what is happening here.  And even though Zechariah knew the narrative of Abram and Sarai, that was so B.C. 

Luke begins with not just one miraculous birth but two.  Luke begins not with Jesus, but with others who are important for our understanding of who God is and what God will be up to according to Luke in this world.  

One last thought about this passage is that the angel appears in the midst of a ritual.  The days leading up to Christmas are filled with ritual.  And the thing about rituals are they are steeped in tradition.  There is a certain way to make Grandma's cookies.  There is a certain place for the tree in the living room and a certain time to decorate.  And yet, rituals, in order to be meaningful, need to be occasionally asked the question, why?  Why am I doing this?  Does it still fill my heart with the same meaning?  If not, why not?  Perhaps in the midst of the hustle and bustle it is too hectic right now to ask this...but there will come a time...say about January 14, 2013, when you could pause and reflect back.  Such reflection is important with respect to ritual.  I suspect Zechariah and Elizabeth never walked past the temple and saw it the same way ever again.  That is the power of ritual and being open to the serendipitous stirring of God's presence for doing a new thing in our world, even today. 

May the traces of God's grace surround you as we get closer to the manger this year.

Blessings!