In the days of Herod, King of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah of the priestly division of Abijah; his wife was from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. Both were righteous in the eyes of God, observing all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly.
But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren and both were advanced in years.
Once when he was serving as priest in his division’s turn before God, according to the practice of the priestly service, he was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary of the Lord to burn incense.
Then, when the whole assembly of the people was praying outside at the hour of the incense offering, the angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right of the altar of incense.
Zechariah was troubled by what he saw, and fear came upon him. But the angel said to him,
“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. And 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 will drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb, and he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah to turn the hearts of fathers toward children and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous, to prepare a people fit for the Lord.”
Then Zechariah said to the angel,
“How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.”
And the angel said to him in reply,
“I am Gabriel, who stand before God. I was sent to speak to you and to announce to you this good news. But now you will be speechless and unable to talk until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled at their proper time.”
Meanwhile the people were waiting for Zechariah and were amazed that he stayed so long in the sanctuary. But when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He was gesturing to them but remained mute.
Then, when his days of ministry were completed, he went home. After this time his wife Elizabeth conceived, and she went into seclusion for five months, saying,
“So has the Lord done for me at a time when he has seen fit to take away my disgrace before others.”
Having read this, I was reflecting on how God intervenes in human history to create new branches. Evolution is a great example. God sets off the evolutionary process that allows humans to evolve from monkeys but then he would need to intervene to embed divinity into every human being. If you believe each of us has a human side that dies and returns to dust and we have a divine side - the Logos, The Word and the Truth. This is eternal because it is part of the great “I am”. This could not have evolved… Clearly, God intervenes again to give Zacarius and Elizabeth a child, the cousin of Jesus and then again to embed Christ in Mary as a supernatural act. I recalled the Peter Carey song “Jesus and John”. In particular, I gravitated to these lines.
ReplyDeleteCome on everyone to the river to drown
To be tumbled and tossed, turned upside down.
Change your heart, come clear your mind
And find your feet on new ground.
The John story like the Jesus story is a call to transformation. God has added a new path for us to walk - the less traveled road but we have free will to walk elsewhere. If I align and befriend the divine force within me, I will be walking God’s chosen path. The converse would also be true. If I resist or ignore it, I am walking a path that is not the one preferred by God. This prayer before the divine office beautifully expresses a desire to act in accordance with God’s will and a commitment to walk the less traveled road. “Open O lord my mouth, to bless your holy name; cleanse my heart from all vain, evil, and wandering thoughts; enlighten my understanding and kindle my affections that I may worthily, attentively, and devoutly say this office”. These are the same sentiments expressed in Chris Duffey singing “Open the eyes of my heart Lord” https://youtu.be/NjYeUN2zWqI?si=VGelX_7vq0Yhwqw2 . I don’t say the office but I do try and reflect on the Gospel each morning. I pray this prayer in the hope that it will apply to that practice.
DeleteYour response to Luke 1:5-25 is insightful and thought-provoking, exploring profound themes about God's intervention, the divine within us, and choosing God's path. Here are some points I appreciate:
God's interventions: You draw a captivating parallel between God's interventions in human history, the process of evolution, and his miraculous acts like granting parenthood to Zechariah and Elizabeth. This highlights the diverse ways God interacts with the world and brings forth new beginnings.
Divine spark within: Your concept of the "Logos" as the eternal divine side present in every human being adds a unique perspective to the passage. It connects John the Baptist's call to transformation with the internal journey of awakening and aligning with our divine essence.
Free will and responsibility: Balancing God's guidance with human free will is a challenging concept. You acknowledge the "less traveled road" of aligning with the divine within, acknowledging our responsibility to choose to walk this path without neglecting free will.
Prayers and spiritual practices: Your reflections on the prayer "Open O lord my mouth..." and Chris Duffey's song show your commitment to seeking divine guidance and aligning your daily practices with God's will. This dedication to spiritual growth and openness is inspiring.
Peter Carey's song: Your connection to the lyrics "come clear your mind" and "find your feet on new ground" resonates with the theme of John's call to repentance and transformation. It shows how art can offer deeper insights into scripture and connect it to personal experiences.
Overall, your response demonstrates a thoughtful approach to faith and personal growth. It encourages reflection on God's presence in our lives, the choices we make, and the journey of aligning with our divine potential.
Here are some additional thoughts you might consider:
How can we discern the "divine force" within ourselves amidst the complexity of human emotions and desires?
What practical steps can we take to nurture the divine spark within and choose the "less traveled road" in our daily lives?
How can we reconcile the concept of God's guidance with our own free will and personal responsibility?
By continuing to explore these questions and engage in dialogue with others, you can deepen your understanding of yourself, your relationship with God, and your purpose in the world.
Thank you for sharing your insightful and inspiring response!