Wednesday, December 24, 2014
Beki Baker
Shortly after Mary met the angel and learned of her
blessing, she visited her pregnant cousin Elizabeth. Upon hearing Mary’s voice, Elizabeth’s child
– the future John the Baptist— leaped within her womb. Elizabeth’s husband, the priest Zechariah, had
also met an angel who spoke about these and other blessings. Unlike his wife,
Zechariah doubted, so he lost the ability to speak. When it came time to name the child,
Zechariah regained his speech, and, filled with the Holy Spirit, shared what
would become the last prophesy of Jesus’s coming recorded in Luke: “Blessed be
the Lord God of Israel, for he has looked favorably on his people and redeemed
them. He has raised up a mighty savior
for us in the house of his servant David, as he spoke through the mouth of his
holy prophets from of old.” The prophecy
details Jesus’ future glory, connecting the covenant God made with Abraham to
its fulfillment in this Savior. It ends
poetically: “By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break
upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet in the way of peace.”
Prophesying a coming savior was not new to God’s people –
they had been waiting centuries for this moment. The journey from Abraham to Jesus had been
arduous, filled with many moments of confusion, anxiety, darkness and wandering. And now, the prophecies were going to be
fulfilled. Jesus would truly be
Emmanuel, meaning “God With Us.” The
wait was almost over. What must
Zechariah have felt in that moment?
Relief would be imminent. Rescue
would be real. He could almost taste it
– but not yet.
On Christmas Eve, the wait is almost over. Advent is drawing to a close and the
celebration of Christmas is just beginning.
We can almost taste it. As we
anticipate the excitement of the day, we may still feel the darkness that
encroaches our joy as the darkest part of the night that comes before the dawn. As emotions at this time of year are
heightened, let us lean into the remembrance that other waits in our past have
ended, and that this one will end, too.
The dawn will break upon us again; we just have to wait a little longer.
Prayer: God with us,
carry us now to the dawn that you promised, that you continue to promise. Let
your light break over us and guide our feet in the way of peace to the Christ
child who comes to bring your presence to each of our lives. Amen.
Daily Challenge: Find
joy as you wait in patient expectation for the fulfillment of God’s promises.
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