The Disruption begins

Advent Devotional – Dec. 17-23, 2023

The readings for Dec. 17 to 23, 2023 walk us through the New Testament stories pre-the birth of Jesus. The focus will be on how the lives of the characters in the story – Mary and Joseph, Zechariah and Elizabeth – were disrupted, in fact were made very complicated by being participants in God’s mission in and to the world. Joining God in what God is doing in the world is not easy, it is not costless. In fact, joining God in God’s purposes will be disruptive of our lives, our goals, and even our self-understanding. This week is an invitation to let God disrupt our lives. 

Luke 1:5-25

5 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. 6 Both of them were righteous before God, living blamelessly according to all the commandments and regulations of the Lord. 7 But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were getting on in years.

8 Once when he was serving as priest before God and his section was on duty, 9 he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and offer incense. 10 Now at the time of the incense-offering, the whole assembly of the people was praying outside. 11 Then there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was terrified; and fear overwhelmed him. 13 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. 14 You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, 15 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. 16 He will turn many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 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.’ 18 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.’ 19 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. 20 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.’

21 Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah, and wondered at his delay in the sanctuary. 22 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. 23 When his time of service was ended, he went to his home.

24 After those days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she remained in seclusion. She said, 25 ‘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.’

Zechariah and Elizabeth had a secret. They were an older couple in town, and they had no children. The town gossips wondered why that was. And then things changed, what had become normal was disrupted.

Zechariah was called to Jerusalem to take his turn as one of the priests in the temple. While there something happened – but no one seemed to know what had happened. The problem was that Zechariah had come back from Jerusalem unable to speak. He was completely mute.  

He stopped joining the rest of guys on Wednesday mornings for coffee – what was the point he couldn’t speak. He just stopped going. And then Elizabeth who had been outgoing, dropping in on friends to talk and have tea. She stopped doing those things. In fact, it had been months since people had seen her. People asked Zechariah where she was when he was in the market buying food. But he couldn’t speak so people were not sure if he was just being rude in not answering, or if he even understood the questions he was bring asked. It was all very strange, and the village gossips had all kinds of theories about what was going on.

And then after five months in seclusion, Elizabeth was out and about again, and she was definitely showing. Elizabeth was pregnant. And at her age. It was surprising. It was shocking. It was hilarious. Elizabeth glowing like a first-time mother – at her age. It was a miracle – that is what Elizabeth said. It was a miracle that had been foretold by an angel that Zechariah saw in the temple.

It was all too amazing, too wonderful, too hilarious – the childless with child, the old couple who were about to have a newborn disrupt their lives. The secret was out. The town gossips never guessed this. For a few days even they were silenced in wonder and awe.   

PRAYER:

O Lord our God, nothing is impossible with you. Your ways are more wonderful than we can hope or imagine. Come and surprise us, do what we think is impossible. Disrupt us with your action in our lives and in our world. In Jesus’ name. Amen.