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| A stork sculpture in U of M Arboretum |
Once when (Zechariah) 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.”
Several times a week, Father Maurus and I play Cribbage. We enjoy the games and neither keeps score of our wins and losses. We seem to break. It’s all in the fall of the cards and means little to either of us.
I find it fascinating that the Jews of Jesus’ day played no games. Or, at least, none are mentioned in the Bible. They did cast lots, as we hear in today’s story, but not for fun. It was to discover God’s preferences. Of all the priests in his family Zechariah was chosen to make the incense offering that year. This privilege, we can suppose, might fall to an individual once in his lifetime. And, as he would learn, it was not by chance. If he doubted that for a moment, the Angel of the Lord dispelled those doubts when he called him by name, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah!”
I suspect that casting lots just for the fun of it, or for the purpose of gambling, might have smacked of sacrilege to Jesus’ contemporaries.
Many centuries later we play with cards, dice and spinners and assume God has no particular interest in our games. Instead we suppose chance, fate or karma governs our games; and the odds determine how often one wins or loses. But, despite the odds, even the most unbalanced games in college or professional athletics must be played because Lady Luck may intervene. “That’s why they call it a game!” Cancelling the game would be little short of blasphemy, even if it’s not televised and no one attends.
Jesus and his co-religionists played no games and never reckoned on chance or luck or fate; and they could not imagine God taking a position so far from everyday life.
As we celebrate the Christmas Season, we remember certain critical events when God played a very active and obvious role in human affairs. No one could suppose anything other than Zechariah had seen a vision while he was in the sanctuary. (We would think he had a TIA.) When Elizabeth became pregnant she knew she was not lucky:
“So has the Lord done for me at a time when he has seen fit to take away my disgrace before others."
When their baby was born and his parents insisted upon the unexpected name of John, everyone knew, “the hand of the Lord was with him.”
God had prepared the Jewish people for nearly two millennia for this moment. Zechariah and Elizabeth were born, raised and trained in that tradition and familiar with God’s ways.
God had prepared the Jewish people for nearly two millennia for this moment. Zechariah and Elizabeth were born, raised and trained in that tradition and familiar with God’s ways.
They were righteous in the eyes of God, observing all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly.
When the moment came these faithful people knew exactly what to do -- because nothing is left to chance in God’s plan.
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I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.