In today’s Gospel Luke tells us the story of the Annunciation of the birth not of Jesus but the Annunciation of the birth of John the Baptist. The angel appears to the priest Zechariah as he was serving his priestly ministry in the Jerusalem Temple. Luke describes the holiness of both Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth: “Both were righteous in the eyes of God, observing all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly.” The angel’s words in the Annunciation to Zechariah are very similar to the angel’s words in the Annunciation to Mary, the mother of Jesus:
Zechariah: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall name him John.”
Mary: “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God…” (Luke 1:30-32).
Both respond at first with fear, and they both wonder how these births will come about. Zechariah protests and asks the question: How? What the angel is announcing seems impossible to Zechariah: “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” The angel Gabriel mildly rebukes Zechariah for his doubts and questions and challenges him to trust in the goodness and power of God.
Later when Mary visits Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist, there is another great sign: “When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, ‘Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.’” (Luke 1:41-42). When John the Baptist is born his father is also filled with the holy Spirit: “Then Zechariah his father, filled with the holy Spirit, prophesied, saying: ‘Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has visited and brought redemption to his people…’” (Luke 1:67-68).
The great question in the Infancy Narrative is the question: How? A question all of us have asked at one time or another. The answer is always through God, through the holy Spirit. The Spirit is the empowering presence of God throughout both the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles.
Image: “IMG_4005O Reynaud Levieux 1613-1699. Nîmes Rome L’Archange Gabriel apparaissant à Zaccharie. The Archangel Gabriel appearing at Zacchary. Avignon Musée Calvet.” by jean louis mazieres is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.