Waiting…

Once again we are in Advent. In a season of thinking about Christ’s coming – and looking forward also to the second Advent of Christ, when he will return. We do that in the midst of days that bring ever more alarming news of increased cost of living at home, and of brutal tyrants at war overseas. In such a world it is tempting to think that Christmas is simply a interlude of pleasant thoughts and sweet sentimentality, without any real connection to the world in which we live.

I want to look slowly at the start of Luke’s gospel to see how utterly wrong that thought is. I will pick up the story at v5.

In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah of the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years. Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense.

Luke 1:5-10

Notice first the setting of this story:

In the days of Herod, king of Judea.

Herod was a brutal man. A king who generally got his own way – yet a king who only ruled because he was useful for the Romans. Judea was a small province in a large empire. Herod was of Jewish origin, and rebuilt the temple to gain favour with his subjects – yet his own life was far from the ethical standards demanded by God’s Law.

It is in this world that we read the story of Zechariah and Elizabeth that leads us to Jesus. Zechariah and Elizabeth are an old couple who have walked blamelessly before God in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. In the midst of the nations around them, in a world of tyrants and a world where God’s laws are trampled underfoot Zechariah and Elizabeth have stayed faithful.

But, they do not have a child because Elizabeth was barren. In a world where having children really mattered, a world where not having children could be seen as a sign of God’s displeasure, in this world this old couple do not have children – and it isn’t because they’ve done anything wrong. It just is. They don’t have a child because they can’t have one. And they are old and it is too late for them.

They live as a righteous couple in an unrighteous world – and yet there is no reward in terms of the blessing of children. God does not see their effort and reward them with children. They’ve lived out their years without that joy and hope. Maybe other things have been some compensation. But maybe they haven’t. Luke doesn’t tell us.

They are faithful. Zechariah is performing his priestly duty faithfully. Elizabeth is living out her life with him faithfully. And yet, up to this point in the story they have received no sign that this faithfulness has been seen.

Like the faithful people who have run out of money to pay for electricity and food. Like the faithful people who live in an apartment whose power supply has been blown up by an enemy missile. Faithfulness offers no protection. No guarantees. No promise that life will work out OK.

And yet Zechariah and Elizabeth show up. And people around them show up. Zechariah goes into the temple to burn incense, and the people gather to pray outside. The whole multitude of people. Did they do this every time someone burnt incense? Or was it when Zechariah’s turn came? We don’t know. But somehow, this time there is a crowd of ordinary people waiting too. Praying. Wanting something to happen. Something to change.

Its a good place to be for Advent. Waiting. Praying. Looking for something to happen. Something to change. Someone to show up. In this world we are often left without evidence. Without the signs. Sometimes the duty of a regular worship is all we have.

In the waiting, pause.

What are you waiting for?

Where does it seem like God has passed you by?

Where would hope most surprise you this advent?