All God
Luke 1:68-69
Malachi 3:5-12
Philippians 1:12-18a
The way these lectionary readings work is that for the first half of the week, the readings are chosen to more fully expand the readings from the previous Sunday, while the readings for the second half of the week are chosen to prepare the reader for the readings of the coming Sunday. As I look ahead at the list, the pattern seems to be keeping the primary Scripture for several days with the secondary Scriptures changing, sometimes with longer passages being broken up and read in succession.
I'm still sorting out how best to structure my responses to these readings... what should I focus on when. It's a trial and error process in many respects. I'm thinking that since the primary reading is, well, primary, that is what I should focus on first, even though I can see we will be here for a couple more days. So that's what I'll do.
This is what is called the Benedictus, spoken by Zechariah, father of John. That would be John the Baptist, the cousin of Jesus. For those who may not know, earlier in chapter 1, Gabriel, God's angel, came to visit Zechariah when he was selected to serve in the temple. This was a continuation of the priest's job to come into God's presence and run interference for God's people. This was set forth way back in the history of Israel. Remember that whole thing with Aaron's staff that we read about earlier in the week? Priests from the tribe of Levi are still serving in the temple, acting as intermediary for the people here during the Roman occupation.
The priest for each day to actually enter the Holy of Holies was chosen by lot, and on the day in question, Zechariah's name was drawn. He enters, and while he is inside he is confronted with Gabriel. As with every human-angel encounter, Zechariah is filled with fear and the angel says, "Do not be afraid." Gabriel then goes on to tell Zechariah that his (Zechariah's) wife, Elizabeth, will become pregnant and give birth to a son who will prepare the people for the coming of the Lord. Zechariah meets the angel's statement with skepticism; Elizabeth is old. Gabriel's response? He takes away Zechariah's voice because Zechariah did not believe. Zechariah would be silent until the prophecy came true. He left the temple and could not speak.
Zechariah did not speak until what he says at the ceremony when the baby is officially named. He writes on a tablet the baby's name was to be John, breaking with tradition because John was not a family name. Zechariah's mouth was immediately opened and he spoke. Our Scripture passage is what he spoke.
He speaks the Gospel; the Good News. And if you'll look carefully, this is all God. We've seen for much of this past week that God's people, well any people, are a mess. We get things wrong all the time. We are such a mess that we cannot actually do anything to save ourselves, despite the fact that we often think we can. The solution has to all come from God.
God has visited and redeemed His people.
God has raised up a horn of salvation.
God has shown mercy.
God has remembered His covenant.
God delivers us from the hand of our enemies.
God allows us to serve Him without fear.
God allows us to see Him all our days.
God's tender mercy.
All God. The Good News, the Gospel, is that God has created and initiated the solution to our sin problem. We cannot stand before a holy God... we would be totally wiped out. Yet God has created a way for us to serve Him without fear. God has redeemed us. God has made things right.
I heard on the radio the other day someone talking about Advent, and how the birth of the Savior is the beginning of the story. I knew what she meant, but that's not quite right. The story started so long before the birth of a baby in Bethlehem. Zechariah's prophecy shows this. He mentions David and Abraham, and the promises made to them. God's plan started a very long time before the Roman census. It is a plan that actually started the instant humans rebelled against God. God planned our redemption over generations and millennia. It culminated in a stable and on a cross. But we are still waiting for the final chapter as we are still within the story. But as we have seen God keeps His promises.
Malachi 3:5-12
Philippians 1:12-18a
The way these lectionary readings work is that for the first half of the week, the readings are chosen to more fully expand the readings from the previous Sunday, while the readings for the second half of the week are chosen to prepare the reader for the readings of the coming Sunday. As I look ahead at the list, the pattern seems to be keeping the primary Scripture for several days with the secondary Scriptures changing, sometimes with longer passages being broken up and read in succession.
I'm still sorting out how best to structure my responses to these readings... what should I focus on when. It's a trial and error process in many respects. I'm thinking that since the primary reading is, well, primary, that is what I should focus on first, even though I can see we will be here for a couple more days. So that's what I'll do.
This is what is called the Benedictus, spoken by Zechariah, father of John. That would be John the Baptist, the cousin of Jesus. For those who may not know, earlier in chapter 1, Gabriel, God's angel, came to visit Zechariah when he was selected to serve in the temple. This was a continuation of the priest's job to come into God's presence and run interference for God's people. This was set forth way back in the history of Israel. Remember that whole thing with Aaron's staff that we read about earlier in the week? Priests from the tribe of Levi are still serving in the temple, acting as intermediary for the people here during the Roman occupation.
The priest for each day to actually enter the Holy of Holies was chosen by lot, and on the day in question, Zechariah's name was drawn. He enters, and while he is inside he is confronted with Gabriel. As with every human-angel encounter, Zechariah is filled with fear and the angel says, "Do not be afraid." Gabriel then goes on to tell Zechariah that his (Zechariah's) wife, Elizabeth, will become pregnant and give birth to a son who will prepare the people for the coming of the Lord. Zechariah meets the angel's statement with skepticism; Elizabeth is old. Gabriel's response? He takes away Zechariah's voice because Zechariah did not believe. Zechariah would be silent until the prophecy came true. He left the temple and could not speak.
Zechariah did not speak until what he says at the ceremony when the baby is officially named. He writes on a tablet the baby's name was to be John, breaking with tradition because John was not a family name. Zechariah's mouth was immediately opened and he spoke. Our Scripture passage is what he spoke.
He speaks the Gospel; the Good News. And if you'll look carefully, this is all God. We've seen for much of this past week that God's people, well any people, are a mess. We get things wrong all the time. We are such a mess that we cannot actually do anything to save ourselves, despite the fact that we often think we can. The solution has to all come from God.
God has visited and redeemed His people.
God has raised up a horn of salvation.
God has shown mercy.
God has remembered His covenant.
God delivers us from the hand of our enemies.
God allows us to serve Him without fear.
God allows us to see Him all our days.
God's tender mercy.
All God. The Good News, the Gospel, is that God has created and initiated the solution to our sin problem. We cannot stand before a holy God... we would be totally wiped out. Yet God has created a way for us to serve Him without fear. God has redeemed us. God has made things right.
I heard on the radio the other day someone talking about Advent, and how the birth of the Savior is the beginning of the story. I knew what she meant, but that's not quite right. The story started so long before the birth of a baby in Bethlehem. Zechariah's prophecy shows this. He mentions David and Abraham, and the promises made to them. God's plan started a very long time before the Roman census. It is a plan that actually started the instant humans rebelled against God. God planned our redemption over generations and millennia. It culminated in a stable and on a cross. But we are still waiting for the final chapter as we are still within the story. But as we have seen God keeps His promises.
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