RETURNING HOME

 

December 7, 2023

 

Luke 1:23-25

²³ When his time of service was completed, he returned home. ²⁴ After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. ²⁵ “The Lord has done this for me,” she said. “In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.”

I wonder what this homecoming was like?  I can visualize Elizabeth, coming to greet her husband, and getting the silent treatment.  Questioning him, touching him, worrying, has he had a stroke? Is he sick? Did someone hurt him? What is wrong? I have a hunch Elizabeth imagined the worst, before the wordless Zechariah was able to get the message across to her of Angels, and God’s promise, a miracle is about to happen.

It must have been an interesting time telling the story to Elizabeth. Poor Old Zechariah, scribbling as fast as he could, Elizabeth desperately following the story. And then the joy! Oh, imagine the joy, knowing that God had heard her prayers too, and that finally, finally, they would have a child.

No wonder she hid herself in private. It must have been so much too much to take in. Five months of quiet and peace, thinking about the massive change in her world. When you stop to think of it, her experience would mean an enormous impact in our lives as well. God’s Good News promise was being fulfilled, and John, the one who would prepare the way for the Messiah was soon to arrive, and right after his birth, Jesus, our Liberator, would be born and he would surrender himself to God’s will, and give Himself up for us all, to bring us back to God. I ask you, what better news could there be?