Monday 19 December 2022

Today is Monday the 19th of December, in the fourth week of Advent.

Eliza King and Hillside Recording sing, ‘Come Thou Long Expected Jesus’. As we walk through this final week of Advent, notice how you are feeling at this time…what will you bring to the crib?


Come, Thou long expected Jesus
Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel's strength and consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.
Born Thy people to deliver,
Born a child and yet a King,
Born to reign in us forever,
Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.
By Thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone;
By Thine all sufficient merit,
Raise us to Thy glorious throne.
By Thine all sufficient merit,
Raise us to Thy glorious throne

Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Luke.


Luke 1:5-25

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. Both of them were righteous before God, living blamelessly according to the commandments and regulations of the Lord. But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were getting on in years.

Once when he was serving as priest before God and his section was on duty, he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and offer incense. Now at the time of the incense-offering, the whole assembly of the people was praying outside. Then there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was terrified; and fear overwhelmed him. But 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. You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for 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. He will turn many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. With 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.’ Zechariah 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.’ The 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. But 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.’

Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah, and wondered at his delay in the sanctuary. When 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. When his time of service was ended, he went to his home.

After those days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she remained in seclusion. She said, ‘This is what the Lord has done for me when he looked favourably on me and took away the disgrace I have endured among my people.’

The vision of the angel Gabriel promises gladness and great joy. John the Baptist will make ready a people prepared for the Lord’s coming. As you hear Gabriel’s message, will you have faith in the joy that he brings? Or will you, like Zechariah, turn away in disbelief?

Losing the power of speech can be disorienting. Unable to communicate, Zechariah must have felt afraid. Yet his silence bears witness to the truth of the words the angel has spoken. As you ponder his lack of words, how are you called to bear witness to the truth?

As you listen to the reading again, imagine what will happen when Zechariah finally breaks his silence. How will Elizabeth respond? What will her response reveal about his silence?

As we come to the end of this time of prayer, you might like to spend some time speaking to God about what is stirring within you. Whether as a wordless witness or a messenger of joy, how are you called to share God’s vision for humanity with the people you meet today?

O Wisdom
Lord and Ruler
Root of Jesse
Key of David
Root of Jesse
Rising Sun
King of the Nations
Emmanuel
Come, Lord Jesus