An Unrelenting and Self-Disclosing God
- davidwperk
- Dec 20, 2021
- 7 min read
Devotional Reflection, Monday, December 20, 2021
The week of the fourth Sunday in Advent
The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D.
Key phrases for reflection from today’s reading:
11Then there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12When Zechariah saw him, he was terrified; and fear overwhelmed him. 13But 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.
Daily Office Lectionary Readings (BCP, 939)
AM Psalm 61, 62; PM Psalm 112, 115
Zeph. 3:14-20; Titus 1:1-16; Luke 1:1-25
Today we celebrate the Feast of Katharina von Bora. (See below.)
Morning Prayer, Rite 2, page 75, Book of Common Prayer
Evening Prayer, Rite 2, page 115, Book of Common Prayer
Compline (Night Prayer), Page 127, Book of Common Prayer
Daily Office Gospel, Luke 1:1-25
1:1Since many have undertaken to set down an orderly account of the events that have been fulfilled among us, 2just as they were handed on to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word, 3I too decided, after investigating everything carefully from the very first, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4so that you may know the truth concerning the things about which you have been instructed.
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. 6Both of them were righteous before God, living blamelessly according to all the commandments and regulations of the Lord. 7But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were getting on in years. 8Once when he was serving as priest before God and his section was on duty, 9he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and offer incense. 10Now at the time of the incense offering, the whole assembly of the people was praying outside. 11Then there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12When Zechariah saw him, he was terrified; and fear overwhelmed him. 13But 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. 14You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, 15for 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. 16He will turn many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. 17With 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.’ 18Zechariah 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.’ 19The 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. 20But 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.’ 21Meanwhile the people were waiting for Zechariah, and wondered at his delay in the sanctuary. 22When 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. 23When his time of service was ended, he went to his home. 24After 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 favorably on me and took away the disgrace I have endured among my people.’ Luke 1:1-25
David’s Reflections
The third Gospel in the New Testament begins with a literary preface addressing the Gospel to a reader named Theophilus. Not only is Luke the only one of the four with such a formal literary beginning, he also is the only one who actually wrote a two-volume work and began the second work with a similar preface. That second work is Acts, separated from Luke in our Bibles by John’s Gospel.
Another fascinating aspect of Luke’s beginning has to do with material unique to his account, like today’s Gospel. Luke 1 describes a revelation to the priest Zechariah that he and his wife Elizabeth finally would have a son, one who would play a key role in the fulfillment of the promises of the prophets and the inauguration of the age of the Messiah. Luke 1 also narrates Elizabeth’s and Mary’s encounter and the angel’s annunciation to Mary with her response of praise (The Magnificat). These stories are unique to Luke’s account.
At the end of this Advent season, this reading speaks to me in terms of God’s unique way of making beginnings. I tend to take it for granted that God reveals Godself, but a text like this one makes that assumption look simplistic and understated. God seeks out Zechariah in the Temple through an angel to reveal to him the birth of his son and that son’s significance. That encounter was intensely personal and dialogical. Zechariah had a vision of the angel while serving in the Temple. Zechariah and Elizabeth were not famous or highly placed people in their society. God chose to begin by personal encounter in the lives of two everyday devout Jewish people.
If we believe that God works in these ways in the world, perhaps we would be more alert and open for God to speak to us through intuitions, dreams, bringing biblical texts to life, visionary moments and a myriad of other ways. Dream experiences can include messages from God. And, recurring intuitions can prove to be promptings from God. Some have visionary experiences that proved life transforming (like the white light experience of one of the founders of Alcoholics Anonymous).
This Gospel reading and the Advent and Christmas lectionary readings make it clear that God exhausts every means to get through to us and that our blindness and insensitivity make that a real challenge. I would like to think that a closer reading of texts like this Gospel reading would make me a bit more of a sensitive listener and a bit more willing to receive light from God whenever and in whatever forms that light comes. As you will note in today’s reading, Zechariah had his own struggle believing what the angel told him. Thank goodness God does not relent in reaching out to us. Who knows which attempt might be the one that has gotten through to me. Chances are that the successful one was not God’s first effort.
Perhaps in this season we can pray with St. Anselm of Canterbury (1033-1109 CE).
“Searching for God”
O Lord my God,
Teach my heart this day where and how to see you,
where and how to find you.
You have made me and remade me,
and you have bestowed on me
all the good things I possess,
and still I do not know you.
I have not yet done that for which I was made.
Teach me to seek you,
for I cannot seek you unless you teach me,
or find you unless you show yourself to me.
Let me seek you in my desire,
let me desire you in my seeking.
Let me find you by loving you,
let me love you when I find you.
[Saint Benedict’s Prayer Book (York: Ampleforth Abbey Press, 1993), p. 118]
Collect of the Day, The fourth Sunday of Advent
Purify our conscience, Almighty God, by your daily visitation, that your Son Jesus Christ, at his coming, may find in us a mansion prepared for himself; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (BCP, 212)
Today we celebrate the Feast of Katharina von Bora, church reformer (died 20
Dec 1552 CE).
Collect of the Feast of Katharina von Bora
Almighty God, who called your servant Katharina von Bora from a cloister to work for the reform of your church: Grant that, for the sake of your glory and the welfare of your church, we may go wherever you should call, and serve however you should will; through Jesus Christ, our only mediator and advocate. Amen.
A Collect for the Renewal of Life
O God, the King eternal, whose light divides the day from the night and turns the shadow of death into the morning: Drive far from us all wrong desires, incline our hearts to keep your law, and guide our feet into the way of peace; that, having done your will with cheerfulness while it was day, we may, when night comes, rejoice to give you thanks; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 99)
Of the Incarnation
O God, who wonderfully created, and yet more wonderfully restored, the dignity of human nature: Grant that we may share the divine life of him who humbled himself to share our humanity, your Son Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (BCP, 252)
A Collect for Early Evening
Almighty God, we give you thanks for surrounding us, as daylight fades, with the brightness of the vesper light; and we implore you of your great mercy that, as you enfold us with the radiance of this light, so you would shine into our hearts the brightness of your Holy Spirit; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 110)
A Collect for Mission
O God, you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth, and sent your blessed Son to preach peace to those who are far off and to those who are near: Grant that people everywhere may seek after you and find you; bring the nations into your fold; pour out your Spirit upon all flesh; and hasten the coming of your kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 100, 257)
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