Getting Past the Fork of Hesitation

Daily Office Devotional, Friday, December 23, 2022

The week of the fourth Sunday in Advent

The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D;

Key phrases for reflection from today’s reading:

59 On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him Zechariah after his father. 60But his mother said, ‘No; he is to be called John.’ 61They said to her, ‘None of your relatives has this name.’ 62Then they began motioning to his father to find out what name he wanted to give him. 63He asked for a writing-tablet and wrote, ‘His name is John.’ And all of them were amazed. 64Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue freed, and he began to speak, praising God.

(You will find the full text of this reading at the end of this reflection.)

Daily Office Lectionary Readings (BCP, 938)

AM Psalm 93, 96; PM Psalm 148, 150

Isa. 33:17-22; Rev. 22:6-11, 18-20; Luke 1:57-66

David’s Reflections

Luke’s first story describes Zechariah’s vision in the Temple of the archangel Gabriel announcing to him the birth of his son. (Luke 1:5-20). Luke alone narrates this announcement and the birth story of John. Zechariah was a priest and in this scene his division of priests was on duty in the Temple. Each division served for one week twice a year.

On this day, as instructed in The Talmud, lots were cast to determine who would enter the Holy Place and refresh the incense offering. The lot fell to Zechariah. This may well be the only time in his life that he had this particular privilege. Alone in this particular space performing this sacred task, the archangel Gabriel appeared to him and announced the birth of their first child. Gabriel instructs him to name the child John, which in Hebrew means “God has shown favor.”

Zechariah expresses doubt about this possibility because both he and his wife, Elizabeth, are older and Elizabeth has been incapable of conceiving. Because of his uncertainty, Gabriel makes him mute until the child’s birth.

In today’s reading, Luke narrates John’s birth. Elizabeth says they are naming him John, to which those around object. That name has not been in their lineage. Zechariah, unable to speak, must write a note confirming Elizabeth’s name choice. Then, his muteness ends and he is able to speak.

I certainly can identify with Zechariah here. How often have I been in a once-in-a-lifetime sacred moment and hesitated to respond to God because of the perceived hindrances or barriers? And, like Zechariah’s muteness, how much have I lost by responding in those moments with uncertainty or hesitancy?

When Gabriel appears to Mary to announce Jesus’ birth, he alludes to the words spoken by the angel to Sarah in Genesis 18, “nothing is impossible for God.” (Lk. 1:37) That proclamation opens up all possibilities as options. Would that I would be less like Zechariah, less hesitant. When I come to that next momentous promise of possibility that stretches me beyond my capacity to envision, how will I respond?

Would that I could pray the words of the poet W. S. Merwin in “Lemuel’s Blessing.”

Lead me past the error at the fork of hesitation.

Deliver me.+

If I can step outside my hesitation enough to utter this prayer, at least I am naming where I am and inviting God to assist me in embracing the possibilities I doubt. Jesus’ teaching brims with promises of possibility—the mustard seed parable, the promises of answered prayer (Mark 11:24), the unlimited possibilities faith opens up (Mark 10:27). And, Jesus’ bold acts of healing show that he lived with the certainty of God’s possibilities being embodied in him.

By trusting Jesus, I can borrow some of that certainty. I can draw on his Spirit within to lead me past the error at the fork of hesitation.

Jesus,

Lead me past the error at the fork of hesitation.

Deliver me.+

[W. S. Merwin, The Second Four Books of Poems (Port Townsend, WA: Copper Canyon Press, 1993), pp. 13-14.

A Collect for Fridays

Lord Jesus Christ, by your death you took away the sting of death: Grant to us your servants so to follow in faith where you have led the way, that we may at length fall asleep peacefully in you and wake up in your likeness; for your tender mercies' sake. Amen. (BCP, 123)

A Disciple’s Prayer

Not very good disciples, Lord. But we are disciples, at least at our best we want to be. Here we are.

Here are our wills, our loves, our loyalties, our conflicts. Here are our compromises, our going to and fro, our giving way to pressures, our irresolutions, our failures to be loyal to love.

All these we hold before you and offer them to you, in whom we pray our discipleship to you. We give that discipleship to you now and begin again to live it as we pray it—that is, as you live and pray it within us. You are our prayer and our choices are resolved in you. Amen.

[John Coburn, A Life to Live—A Way to Pray (New York: Seabury, 1973), p. 64.]

In the Order of Worship for Evening

Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers, creator of the changes of day and night, giving rest to the weary, renewing the strength of those who are spent, bestowing upon us occasions of song in the evening. As you have protected us in the day that is past, so be with us in the coming night; keep us from every sin, every evil, and every fear; for you are our light and salvation, and the strength of our life. To you be glory for endless ages. Amen. (BCP, 113)

A Collect for Mission

O God of all the nations of the earth: Remember the multitudes who have been created in your image but have not known the redeeming work of our Savior Jesus Christ; and grant that, by the prayers and labors of your holy Church, they may be brought to know and worship you as you have been revealed in your Son; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (BCP, 257)

Daily Office Gospel, Luke 1:57-66

57 Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. 58Her 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. 60But his mother said, ‘No; he is to be called John.’ 61They said to her, ‘None of your relatives has this name.’ 62Then they began motioning to his father to find out what name he wanted to give him. 63He asked for a writing-tablet and wrote, ‘His name is John.’ And all of them were amazed. 64Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue freed, and he began to speak, praising God. 65Fear came over all their neighbours, and all these things were talked about throughout the entire hill country of Judea. 66All who heard them pondered them and said, ‘What then will this child become?’ For, indeed, the hand of the Lord was with him.

Daily Prayer Offices in The Book of Common Prayer Morning Prayer, Rite 2, page 75, Book of Common Prayer Noonday Prayer, p. 103, Book of Common Prayer Order of Worship for Evening (Vespers), p. 109, Book of Common Prayer Evening Prayer, Rite 2, page 115, Book of Common Prayer Compline (Night Prayer), Page 127, Book of Common Prayer Daily Devotionals, page 136, Book of Common Prayer