A look at the gaps in the lectionary.
This week: the gaps between Advent 3B & 4B and 4B & Christmas 1B
The texts: Luke 1:1-25 and John 1
We conclude our Advent journey this year with the angel’s visitation to Mary, one of the most recognizable Christmasy stories in the calendar. And a clear favorite, what with its gratitude and Godly favor.
To get there, we have to jump from John’s story of John the Baptist (which was a jump from Mark’s), skipping the intro material in the gospel of Luke, including his stuff about John.
What we skip, while not the stuff we usually talk about during Advent, is some of the best storytelling in all of the gospels. And the story, which begins with Zechariah, makes for an exciting and meaningful preparation for Christmas. If I had my way, I’d trade a week of John the Baptist for it.
Zechariah’s story
Before getting into Zechariah’s story, however, Luke introduces his gospel with a dedication to Theophilus. He then proceeds to anchor the whole story in the time of King Herod.
Zechariah is visited in the temple by an angel. He was going about his work when the angel appeared, freaking him out. The angel tells him that his prayers have been heard and that his wife will get pregnant and bear a son. He is to name him John.
The angel goes on about the greatness of John, his prophetic character, his evangelism and that many people will hear his message of repentance and find the love of God. And he will prepare the way for the Lord.
Of course, Zechariah can’t believe it. They’re too old to have a kid. As much as he wants it to be true, it just can’t be.
Which is the mistake, isn’t it? [When an angel tells you something is going to happen, apparently we’re supposed to believe it.]
The angel mutes Zechariah, saying that his mouth will be released when this stuff happens.
Preparing for the Incarnation
This story sets up the moment that follows, when months later, Mary visits her cousin, Elizabeth (Zechariah’s wife) and they are both pregnant.
The theme of proclaiming the Good News remains front and center. In the same way that Zechariah’s inability muted him, Mary’s ability to proclaim opens her up to proclaim the very greatness of God and the good that God’s dream offers.
Zechariah’s muteness similarly contrasts with the foretelling of his son’s own greatness.
Soon enough, this contrast will be released as Zechariah will get his voice back and use it to proclaim the Good News boldly.
It is this frame of Zechariah’s belief/unbelief that sets the story of Mary in contrast with the priest in the Temple and the norms of the moment. She is particularly great given their example.
On the first Sunday after Christmas
we get John 1 again; which, by that time, will have already heard on Christmas Day.
Let us now consider it in light, not of Christmas Day, and therefore, the celebration of the Incarnation event, but in terms of the greater project the Incarnation reveals.
So much of the beauty of Christmas is found in its pastoral affect. We love the feeling of Christmas. And we love the thought of the baby, born in the midst of loving family and, perhaps, less than ideal conditions. We love the shepherds and the following and all of that stuff.
What the Incarnation offers, however, is the revelation that God is with us.
The ramifications, then, are that God is with us.
An image, then, comes to my mind of what happens when the boss comes to the party or the camp counselor is there all the time and we can’t get a moment without them!
If God is with us, then God is part of stuff we might prefer God took a break from seeing once in a while. Not because we want to do terrible things. Just…some light teasing, perhaps. Or to take a break from always being on our best behavior.
As we will see from the grown Jesus, God isn’t so focused on prescribing what’s good and what’s bad. Thankfully! And that perhaps God’s presence with us is more about easing our burdens and partnering with us in the tough times.