Monday, November 28, 2022  

Today’s Scripture Reading
Luke 1:5–13

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 all 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. (NRSV)

Reflection

My oldest child is a college sophomore and working mightily to find her place in the world—the place that is apart from her immediate family. I remember that time in my own life quite well. We all do it—determine who we want to be apart from the expectations of our family. And yet, at our core we are an amalgamation of the generations who came before us and the expectations of who we are to become.

From Luke’s account we know about John’s lineage—his parents and grandparents and their family ethos. This passage also sets the expectation for who John would become. I imagine it was tough for John to grow up in a family that “lived blamelessly according to the commandments.” I wonder how often his parents sat him down at the kitchen table to explain he was never to drink wine and to remember he was filled with the Holy Spirit from the start. Those are weighty expectations indeed.

We know that John set out on his own path. He spent time proclaiming harsh truths from the wilderness, and he didn’t dress according to his community’s fashion. Yet while he didn’t follow the precise path of the priestly order that came before him, he was filled with the Holy Spirit. He preached repentance and a new world order. He was faithful to expectations—even though it may not have looked like the future his parents envisioned for him.

As we make our way to the manger this Advent, we will focus on the sweet baby Jesus. It won’t be long until we wrestle with the idea that Jesus didn’t meet the expectations of what an earthly messiah would be like. And yet he was God made flesh. Through Jesus God showed us exactly what love looks like, and each day we endeavor to love one another in that way. Weighty expectations indeed.

Prayer

Holy God, as we make our way through this season, let us hold fast to what is true about who we are and whose we are. You are always reaching toward us in love, with love, and through love. Amen.

Written by Andrea Denney, Executive Director of Operational Ministries

Reflection and prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church

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