L: Today we hear the story of Zechariah and Elizabeth. They lived in a time called the "Pax Romana," or Roman Peace, and many called Caesar a "savior" because he ended, by force, the seemingly endless cycle of war. In the book, The First Advent in Palestine, author Kelley Nikondeha says this: "What made some see Caesar as a savior was a kind of peace that benefited the few while exploiting the many; one that usurped land and harvests from the poor. Perhaps, I thought, the first Advent was God's critique of what the world called peace." It was in this time of "peace with oppression" that religious leaders like Zechariah had to serve, making sure to walk the line of honor to God, but deference to Caesar and to Herod, the so-called "King of the Jews." Hear the story from Luke 1:5-25:

In the days of the ruler Herod, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the priestly class of Abijah. His wife Elizabeth was a descendant of Aaron. Both were worthy in the sight of God and scrupulously observed all the commandments and observances of our God. They were childless—unable to conceive—and they were both advanced in years. Now it was the turn of Zechariah's priestly class to serve. And as he was fulfilling his priestly office before God, it fell to him by lot, according to priestly usage, to enter the sanctuary of our God and offer incense. While the full assembly of people was praying outside at the time of day when the incense was offered, an angel of our God appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense. Zechariah was deeply disturbed upon seeing the angel, and was overcome with fear.

The angel said to him, "Don't be frightened, Zechariah. Your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear a son, whom you'll name John. He will be your joy and delight and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the sight of our God. He must never drink wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit from his mother's womb. And he will bring many of the children of Israel back to their God Most High. He will go before God as a forerunner, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of parents to their children, and the rebellious to the wisdom of the just—to make ready a people prepared for our God."

Zechariah said to the angel, "How can I be sure of this? I am an old man, and my wife too is advanced in age." The angel replied, "I am Gabriel, who stands before God. I was sent to speak to you and bring you this good news. But because you have not trusted my words, you'll be mute—unable to speak—until the day these things take place. They'll all come true in due season." Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondered about his delay in the sanctuary. When he finally came out he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision inside. But he could only make signs to them and remained mute. Then, when his time of priestly service was over, he went home.

Some time later, Elizabeth conceived. She went into seclusion for five months, saying, "Our God has done this for me. In these days, God has shown favor to us and taken away the disgrace of our having no children."

L: We move forward in the same chapter of Luke to verses 57-80 where the story of Zechariah continues after the birth of their son. As was promised, Zechariah was silent no longer. When he began to speak, it was a word of prophecy about his son John making the way for the Promised One and the way of true peace. Hear the story as it continues:

When the time came for Elizabeth to deliver, she gave birth to a son. When her neighbors and relatives heard that God had been merciful to her, they shared her joy. When all had assembled for the circumcision on the eighth day, they intended to name the baby after his father Zechariah. But his mother spoke up, "No, he is to be called John."

They pointed out to her, "But no one in your family has this name." Then they made signs to the father to find out what he wanted the child to be named. The father asked for a writing tablet and wrote, "His name is John." They were all astonished.

Immediately Zechariah's mouth was opened and his tongue was loosed, and he began to speak in praise of God. Their neighbors were all filled with awe, and throughout the hill country of Judea, people were talking about these events. All who heard the news stored it in their hearts and said, "What will this child turn out to be?" For God's hand was with him. Zechariah, John's father, was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:

"Blessed are you, the Most High God of Israel— for you have visited and redeemed your people. You have raised up a mighty savior for us of the house of David, as you promised through the mouths of your holy ones, the prophets of ancient times: salvation from our enemies and from the hands of all our foes. You have shown mercy to our ancestors by remembering the holy Covenant you made with them, the oath you swore to Sarah and Abraham, granting that we, delivered from the hands of our enemies, might serve you without fear, in holiness and justice, in your presence all our days. And you, my child, will be called the prophet of the Most High, for you'll go before our God to prepare the way for the Promised One, giving the people the knowledge of salvation through forgiveness of their sins. Such is the tender mercy of our God, who from on high will bring the Rising Sun to visit us, to give light to those who live in darkness and the shadow of death and to guide our feet into the way of peace."

In the meantime, the child grew up and became strong in spirit. He lived out in the desert until the day he appeared openly in Israel.