On this Monday in the Fourth Week
of Advent, the appointed Gospel for the Daily Office is taken from the first
chapter of Luke:
Since
many have undertaken to set down an orderly account of the events that have
been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed on to us by those who from
the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word, I too decided, after
investigating everything carefully from the very first, to write an orderly
account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the truth
concerning the things about which you have been instructed.
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. 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 favorably
on me and took away the disgrace I have endured among my people.’ (Lk. 1:1-25).
Luke writes to Theophilus, the
lover of God, and I hope that includes you and me. Luke’s Gospel turns the
world upside down! Women, who were
essentially powerless in that day, play the key parts in the Gospel. Those who are in charge, like Zechariah, the
priest, are silenced. In Luke’s Gospel,
the lowly are brought high, and the arrogant are brought low. That is what the Kingdom of God looks like.
Let us pray: Purify our
conscience, Almighty God, by your daily visitation, that your Son Jesus Christ,
at his coming, may find in us a mansion prepared for himself; who lives and
reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
Amen.
CALENDAR REMINDERS
Christmas Eve Eucharist Rite II,
4 PM Thursday.
Please remember everyone on our
prayer list, especially Gladys, Shaleah, and Nigel.
Your servant in Christ,
Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal
Church
Galveston, Texas 77550
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