Rejoicing in God’s disruptive ways
Luke 1:57-66
57 Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. 58 Her neighbours and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her.
59 On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him Zechariah after his father. 60 But his mother said, ‘No; he is to be called John.’ 61 They said to her, ‘None of your relatives has this name.’ 62 Then they began motioning to his father to find out what name he wanted to give him. 63 He asked for a writing-tablet and wrote, ‘His name is John.’ And all of them were amazed. 64 Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue freed, and he began to speak, praising God. 65 Fear came over all their neighbours, and all these things were talked about throughout the entire hill country of Judea. 66 All who heard them pondered them and said, ‘What then will this child become?’ For, indeed, the hand of the Lord was with him.
Isn’t this how it is? Living on two levels – we know what is happening before us, but sometimes we get a chance to know deeper, to perceive more profoundly. So often, it is only in looking backwards that we know the deeper truth, the more profound reality.
On one level this is the story of a birth and the naming of the newborn – an event that happens in communities and families all the time. Yes, moments of great joy but ordinary moments, nothing surprising.
But on the deeper level, the events at this child’s naming give us a glimpse of the drama Zechariah and Elizabeth were invited to join. A drama God is taking to the goal and purpose he has. The child is to be named John – not a name with family history, an unexpected name. The relatives are taken aback when Elizabeth says that is the name – so Zechariah is enlisted in the conversation. And he writes – “His name is John.” And suddenly Zechariah can speak – the speechless one is given a voice. What he does with his restored voice is equally surprising – he praises God. Zechariah offers praise to the one who silenced him. In the 9 months of silence Zechariah has been able to ponder and reflect on the purposes of God. Three months of which Mary was present in the house. Zechariah has had time to reflect on what God is doing.
Through the silence, through the being unable to speak, God was as good and as true and as worthy of praise as God is when John is born and named, and Zechariah can speak. The God who stopped Zechariah in his tracks is as worthy of praise as is the God who gave Zechariah his voice back.
God is as present in our moments of despair and fear as God is when things are going well, God is as worthy of our praise when the odds seem stacked against us as when everything is right with the world. To make this very pointed – God is as worthy of praise in a world where COVID exists, as God was worthy of praise before COVID happened.
But sometimes we only see this when looking back.
PRAYER:
O Lord, give us an awareness of your presence even when that is hidden and not obvious. Sharpen our discernment that we might sense your being with us even in confused and confusing circumstances. Teach us to praise you in good times and bad, knowing that you are with us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.