Thursday 20 December 2012

Background

Today's reading sees the fulfilment of the prophecy of Gabrielthat Elizabeth would become pregnant. Her response is to withdrawinto seclusion, in spite of her joy. It is a response that fitswith the silence of Zechariah (verse 20): what God has done is tobe trumpeted only when the baby is born. This is a time for quietthankfulness.

Elizabeth's thankfulness is recorded. If children are understood(as in the biblical narrative) as a blessing from God,childlessness can be interpreted as a sign of God's disfavour. Fortwo people who lived blameless lives (verse 6), this must have beenhard to bear. Again, there is an echo of an important Old Testamentbirth narrative. Like Elizabeth, Rachel discovering that she isexpecting Joseph declares that the Lord has taken away her disgrace(Genesis 30:23).

Zechariah is, of course, speechless at this time. But hisspeechlessness has proved to be eloquent. He emerged from thesanctuary where he had met with Gabriel to be greeted by thecongregation who were awaiting his blessing. His delay in appearingand inability to pronounce the benediction are enough to tell theassembled people that something momentous is happening. Even in apassage where the good news seems to be kept quiet, the good newsis being heard.

To Ponder

• Do your prayers include those who are unable to have childrenand live with that pain?

• Does a sense of a child as a gift from God inform your approachto difficult ethical issues such as fertility treatment orabortion? If so, how?

• Are there times when silence is a more appropriate responsethan speech to an experience of the goodness of God? What mightthey be?