On one hand you have a woman who has struggled through years of infertility, on the other you have a girl who hasn't even worried about getting pregnant. This is often the way God works, with the unable and the not ready. And if God can work miracles in those who have given up hope and in those who have no expectation of a miracle, then God can work miracles in anybody's life, including mine, including yours.
Zacharias was a priest from a priestly lineage married to a priestly woman. In the course of his duties he is visited by an angel, which I assume was not a regular occasion, which I assume because the angel first words to Zacharias is "Do not be afraid." The angel goes on to tell Zacharias that his wife, Elizabeth, is going to have a baby and that this baby would make way for the coming Messiah. Upon hearing this news Zacharias does what I myself probably would and questions the angel. Because of his doubt the angel strips Zacharias of his ability to talk until the baby is born.
Zacharias was in the holy place for a long time and the people waiting for him began to grow alarmed, when he finally came out he gestured and had a look upon his face that everyone could tell something had happened to him, but they did not know what. The now deaf Zacharias went back to work to finish out his shift and then finally went home to his wife and at some point Elizabeth became pregnant. Interestingly enough at no point in Luke's account does it say that Zacharias went home and told Elizabeth what he had been told by the angel. So, Zacharias is visited by an angel, told his wife will become pregnant, doubts it, loses his voice, and goes home in both literal and proverbial silence.
[Small Aside Warning: If you ever want an interesting Bible study just start looking at all the times in the Gospels where people either are told not to tell what happened or simply don't tell what happened. It almost makes you wonder how the story got passed down in the first place.]
Elizabeth, the priestly woman who was infertile until she wasn't had a cousin named Mary who was to be married to a man named Joseph who was descended from the great king David. 6 months following the events between Zacharias and Elizabeth an angel appears to Mary and tells her that she has found favor in the eyes of God. Mary thinks this is a weird introduction but allows the angel to continue. The angel goes on to tell Mary that she will become pregnant and give birth to a baby who will be the Messiah. Zacharias questioned the plan, Mary merely questioned how it would happen. The angel tells her that the Holy Spirit would come upon her and impregnate her. Her response to all of this was a simple statement, "I am the Lord's servant."
Zacharias and Elizabeth had been praying for a child and when they are promised one Zacharias's response is "Why should I believe you?" To a large extent it seems that Zacharias was praying for something that he thought was beyond what God could or would do.
Mary was simply going about her life and when she is told that she is being chosen for such a burden as bringing the Messiah to life, she says "Sign me up." To a large extent it seems that Mary was ready for whatever God would do in her life, and I do mean whatever.
There is a gulf of difference between those two lives and responses. The musical Hamilton, by Lin-Manuel Miranda, has caused many people to ask themselves if they are a (Alexander) Hamilton or a (Aaron) Burr. Hamilton was someone who was constantly working toward what he wanted out of life, choosing a side and forging ahead, Burr was constantly waiting to see what life would bring him, waiting to see what the outcome would be before he choose a side. Today, I think the question we need to ask ourselves is, are we a Zacharias or a Mary?
Do we, like Zacharias, pray for God to do something without believing that God will, and when God does show up we question if it is real?
Or do we, like Mary, live life in expectation of God working in us and through us and around us, waiting to say yes to God?
I wish I could give a different answer, but in honesty I am probably much more likely to act like Zacharias than I am to be like Mary. I doubt much more than I sign on the dotted line, I waver much more than charge ahead.
As the story continues Mary and Elizabeth meet up the baby inside of Elizabeth leaps with joy at the closeness of the baby inside of Mary. Elizabeth can tell what is going on in their lives and praises God for how God is working through Mary and how Mary has welcomed the workings of God. Mary responds in praise to God and in an understanding beyond her young years that because of what she has done her name would always be remembered.
Mary stays with Elizabeth and then Elizabeth gives birth, she says the baby will be named John and upon the loosening of his tongue Zacharias confirms the naming of the baby. The story of the birth spread like wildfire so that all wondered what this little baby boy would become. In response Zacharias praises God and speaks to what God is doing in the world and what will be in the coming years.
Luke chapter 1 ends with a small look at John's life, about how he lived a life full of the spirit and a life outside of society in the wilderness, until the day came for him to step out of the shadows and into the light. Shadows and light, angels and miracles, doubt and trust, birth announcements that changed the very course of the world.
Peace and Love,
Pastor K
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