December 9 Lk. 1:68-78, I Phil 1:3-11
The news on Monday was of a royal Advent, as the beautiful duchess of Cambridge is expecting a child. Christmas is for children, we hear. With all the fuss about children at this time of year, it is especially hard for couples facing infertility. Our prayer in Luke this morning was a culmination of the birth of John the Baptist to an ordinary priestly family.For a long time, Elizabeth and Zechariah had planned for and hoped for a family. their family remained the two of them. The years passed. People whispered and sometimes out loud that they must have some secret sin to bring on infertility. Now in their old age, Elizabeth was expecting.Their son’s name is the male form of Hannah, Grace, Favor, whom we read not long ago. While the people had spoken ill of them, they do at least share in the joy of now having a miracle child.In Zechariah-I am always drawn to its beautiful closing words. Zechariah lives out his name because he speaks of God remembering, calling to mind, the promises made to the people, not to this couple alone..
Advent waiting is a curious mixture of active and passive.Of course, we cannot control any divine timetable when the consummation of god’s vision could be announced or seen. At the same time, we are agents for God’s work to make human life more properly human. I think a couple needs a full nine months to adjust to the idea of a new life coming into their lives, especially a couple who have waited as long as Zechariah and Elizabeth. I am the least mechanical person on earth, so figuring out how to get the crib put up with that sliding section was a real challenge for me.
Not long after thanksgiving we have this marvelous expression of thanksgiving for the people of Philippi and repeats the fulsome thanksgiving of last week’s epistle.,This is an appropriate time to give thanks for you at Alton, First. A good Advent idea is thinking about spiritual and relationship gifts we can give each other. A great gift idea is an expression of thanks to folks in life not only for what they do, but for who they are. In a new movie Perks of Being a Wallflower, the lead , Charlie, is astonished when his new friends propose a toast to him. “What did I do?”
At the end of his magnificent prayer, Zechariah speaks of the tender mercies of our God. (see the great film Tender Mercies). So often, our deepest conception of God is a harsh one. Zechariah’s God notices both large scale injustice and the cries of a couple. We so want the holiday season to be happy and bright, but death does not take a holiday. He envisions his son helping to give light to those who sit in darkness, those in the shadow of death. Last week we sang of death’s dark shadow being put to flight , finally, he prays to guide our feet in the way of peace. For inner peace, we rush about and refuse to find a moment for spiritual respite or comfort.We click on the news and hear of war and rumors of war constantly, including the country where Jesus lived. A yearning for peace in its various guises is part of Advent preparation.In this season of peace we continue at war in Afghanistan even as we are now mercifully extricated form Iraq. the land of Jesus continues to live in the shadow of violence and death every single day.How we pray for the Advent of peace. when we seem unable to find its path, may the light of the God of peace help us to discover the path to the most tender of mercies, peace.
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