Bethlehem Lutheran Church

This past Sunday, I led our students in a spiritual practice called Lectio Divina (latin for Divine Reading).  A Biblical passage is read 3 times, with time to reflect between each reading.  After reading the story of Zechariah being struck mute after the news of his wife's miraculous pregnancy (Luke 1:5-24), my eyes wandered down the page.  I was using a Student Study Bible where highlighted at the bottom of the page was a short reflection titled, "Elizabeth and Zechariah: End of an Era".  This small reflection, designed and written for teenages, caught me, a 35-year-old youth directior, looking at this significant event celebrated and recalled every season of Advent (AKA. I've heard this story a million times) in a new way.  I had a shift in perspective and feel richer for it.  Advent came alive in a new way! Here is part of that short reflection from Study Bible: The New Student Bible, published by Augsburg Fortress, circa 1990.

Elizabeth and Zachariah were among the very first to sense the change that came with Jesus. Devout believers from priestly families, they represented the best of the old order.  They had devoted many years to serving God under the Old Testament law (Torah).  Yet a cloud of sadness hung over their lives, for they were growing old and the greatest blessing they could imagine had been denied them.  Childless, they knew their line would die out when they passed away.

Then the new era abruptly broke in.  One day as Zechariah was performing his duties in the temple, an angel brought some astounding news:  He would have a son!  Zechariah, long past the age of parentood, asked for proof and got perhaps more than he bargained for.

A short while later a relative of Elizabeth's, named Mary, brought even greater news.  The Messiah, the Savior the people had been longing for, was on the way!  Not only had God answered Elizabeth's and Zechariah's personal prayers, their nations' long waiting would soon come to an end as well.

Soon the old priest Zechariah and his elderly wife were bringing up the young and vigorous John the Baptist, a true original who would prepare the way for Jesus.  With unusual foresight, the old couple greeted the new era with joy.  In it they saw not the loss of their old order, but the fulfillment of their dreams.

With Jesus comes the Kingdom of God, a kingdom that is for all people who believe and seek healing, forgiveness, justice and mercy!  It is not a kingdom defined by priestly lines or religious aptitude or even birthright.  It is a kingdom founded on God's undeserving grace that comes to us through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  The son of a priest and a descendant of Aaron makes way for this new era by proclaiming the good news and preparing the way of the Lord!  How ready am I to receive good news - startling news, news that calls me to welcome a radical change?May Elizabeth and Zachariah reside in my both my heart and my hands this Advent season