Always Open, Open All Ways
December 19, 2004
Luke 1:57-80
Today we lit the fourth Advent candle which means Christmas is here this week! We’re closing in on the Holiest Night in our Tradition, Christmas Eve. In five nights we’ll be here praising God for the little one. And, each year as Christmas draws nearer we hear the folklore around the birth of this baby. And the stories are rich, filled with all sorts of juicy characters. Today is just such a tale. We have the conclusion to the story we heard a couple of weeks ago. Remember? Zechariah was in the Temple and drew the short lot so was sent in to please God with a burning of incense? While Zechariah enters the room, Gabriel appears. Zechariah questions God on the plan and is struck mute. Elizabeth becomes pregnant even though she’s past childbearing years and today this is where we pick them up…
God’s prophecy through Gabriel is fulfilled…Elizabeth indeed gives birth to a healthy boy child. And she suggests naming him John. Of course, women didn’t do the naming of children. And, the family and religious leaders weren’t willing to name the child John. The ceremony is derailed and nearly stops until someone remembers to write to Zechariah and get his input. They probably thought she was trying to pull something over while Zechariah couldn’t speak…just like a woman, right?! Miraculously, Zechariah writes name him John, confirming this crazy thing Elizabeth has said. What this story is attempting to teach us, is that God keeps God’s promises. A messenger sent a plan, said the plan was of God, and now that plan has been fulfilled. The God that intervenes, that still speaks, this God also follows through.
For the neighbors it’s a bit different. The neighbors realize all of this is miraculous. First, God intervenes and finds favor with Elizabeth which changes her entire status and position in the family, community, society, community of faith. But, when Zechariah regains his speech, it is clear to those gathered that once again, for a second time, God is moving in this family. This is the same family that they’ve been whispering about for years…showing up at temple and acting oh so holy when clearly God didn’t bless them. What kind of family has God intervene more than once…how holy must they be? The people become afraid of what has happened…Because, this thing that was happening was big, and it seemed in opposition to everything that had happened up to this point with this family.
This is in opposition to how Zechariah experiences the event. He immediately begins praising God and celebrating the things God has done for him, what God is doing for Israel, what God does for those who have faith. Actually, what Zechariah says in his canticle is a mini enactment of the song he’s delivering. God’s mercy liberates the people to worship, not to be afraid, or fearful. The relationship between God and creation is not one of fear. In fact, Zechariah shows liberation can be expressed in praise. This liberation isn’t about political liberation. It’s a liberation of the soul, of the person, that there is more to living than the work we do to feed ourselves, raise our families, be good neighbors. Liberation becomes a religious term. Liberation becomes a holiness and worship for the gift of living as a child of God. Liberation is knowing that the place beyond the great divide is open for us and no one can take that from us.
This introduction to liberation is a theme that will carry on. For John will not rally the troops for liberation. Instead he will gather people together and forgive sins, baptizing in the name of one who loves. John’s role is to lead the people in peace, just as the role of the Messiah will be.
For we are a liberated people. People who have a greater freedom than the freedom from our enemies. We have a freedom from the shadow of death itself.
And, this is the turning point of the story for Luke and for Christians. Lots of folks have confessed they’re not too sure about this Jesus and claiming him, not to mention proclaiming him as integral to our faith. But, check this out. Today’s work brings us to this new thing that’s happening in their world. Zechariah and Elizabeth, Joseph and Mary are all good Jews. All excellent people who are following the tenets of a faith that embodies the chosen people. But, in Luke’s story which plays out in the books of Luke and Acts, this is the first step for those of us who aren’t part of that group. Yes, God loves the chosen people. But, what about the rest of creation? And, this season, for all those who are not part of the chosen people, this is where our story begins. That God said, I am coming. That God came. That God offered a new hope, a new peace, a new promise to a people who were not in the original story. So today, when we hear this Christmas message, let us be mindful of the liberation of John’s story. We are a liberated people. We are a people who have been called to be open to something new from the very beginning of our story. We are a people who have been open to God speaking in new and different ways from the days when a woman became pregnant past her childbearing years. We have been liberated through the possibility that prophecies have been fulfilled and others declared. We have been liberated through the coming of a newborn son. We have been liberated to live beyond the political, opening ourselves to the law of love. Love that explodes in five more days. Until then…