December 11: Daring to Hope
♫ Music:
WEEK THREE
December 11 - December 17
Two Miraculous Pregnancies
Both old and new testaments record miraculous pregnancies, eight to be exact. Sarah, Abraham’s wife, beyond childbearing years, gave birth to Isaac when she was 90 years old. The Lord allowing her to conceive and deliver twins, Jacob and Esau, finally blessed barren Rebekah, Isaac’s wife. Jacob’s wife Rachel, was childless until the Lord opened her womb and gave her Joseph. Samson and Samuel are two additional examples of inexplicable Old Testament births. Finally the Shunammite woman who built a room on the roof of her house for the Prophet Elisha became pregnant when Elisha granted her wish to bear a son. This week we recall the unusual circumstances surrounding the births of John the Forerunner and his cousin, Christ. Elizabeth, like Sarah, was old and kept her condition hidden for five months. But when Mary arrived for a visit, Elizabeth (filled with the Holy Spirit) blessed her relative, acknowledging that both of their pregnancies, bound together with Old Testament predecessors, were miraculous and divine interventions, ordained by God for the salvation of the world.
The Birth of John the Baptist Foretold
Scripture: Luke 1: 8-25
Now while Zechariah was serving as priest before God, 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. And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and 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, and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.” And 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 answered him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.” And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they were wondering at his delay in the temple. And when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple. After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she kept herself hidden, saying, “Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.”
To Saint John the Baptist
by Henry Constable
As Anne long barren, Mother did become
of him, who last was Judge in Israel:
Thou last of prophets born like Samuel
didst from a womb past hope of issue come.
His mother silent spake: thy father dumb
recovering speech, God’s wonder did foretell:
he after death a prophet was in hell:
and thou unborn within thy mother’s womb:
He did anoint the king, whom God did take
from charge of sheep, to rule his chosen land:
But that high king who heaven and earth did make
Received a holier liquor from thy hand,
When God his flock in human shape did feed,
as Israel’s king kept his in shepherd’s weed.
DARING TO HOPE
This piece of digital art deals lovingly with Zachariah's initial lack of faith, showing him - wizened, hoary, infirm - with joy and childlikeness restored. And do we all not have moments when our faith breaks down? When our anguish and longing get the better of us, and we would prefer to expect disappointment than to risk hope?
The scriptural counterpoise to the wise, priestly, elder Zachariah is the sheltered, naive, child Mary of Nazareth. Their stories are told side-by-side by the storyteller Luke, who has an obvious point to make. Both are greeted by an angel. Both are reassured with the command most often repeated in the Bible, 'do not be afraid.' But while Zachariah meets his heart's greatest longing with fear, worry, and protection against further disappointment, Mary meets her heart's greatest fear with trust. Zachariah is offered the desire of his heart - and scrutinizes it, grabs it, and barters for it. Mary is offered a girls' worst nightmare - and accepts. Both have a similar "how" question - but Mary's is grounded in an open hand that trusts the outcome. Zachariah's "how" emerges from years of dealing with disappointment, wanting control and assurance so he can manage his emotions.
Elizabeth stands between these two "how?”s, with her hands wrapped around her belly, eyes glowing with her wonderful secret. She is the one whom the Holy Spirit has touched, and who knows it in her depths. For years, while her husband has prayed and done all his priestly things in the temple, she has done her own priestly duties as housewife. She has tended the hearth fire and kept hope alive. She is placed in this artwork as an equal with her highly-regarded, religious husband. They both have the symbols of Jewish faithfulness etched behind them - Scripture, menorah - but hers has been a hidden faithfulness, lived in her home over the years that has borne fruit in old age. The tree between them is ancient, representing the strength and fertility that come from years of faithfulness - years of tending the hearth fires of hope.
The Holy Spirit is the hidden player in all of this, as barely seen in the upper left hand corner. This is the Spirit who hovered over the chaos and waters of creation. This is the Spirit who hovered over Mary's amniotic waters. This is the Spirit who has bound Zachariah's tongue, and unbound Elizabeth's womb. This is the Spirit who caused John to leap in Elizabeth's womb. And this is the Spirit who has rekindled the hope of a man long-aged not by the cares of the world, but aged by the refusal to live in hope.
This is the season of Advent. Of waiting. Of daring to hope for that dream that has long died. Of meeting the Lord not by grasping and controlling his gifts, but arms open and outstretched - open to the pain that such hope brings. Mary is our forerunner in all of this, choosing to say 'yes' to that which would bring such joy and such pain. And this is the yes that the Lord asks of us, again and again.
Prayer;
O God, in the midst of discouragements, difficulties, distress and darkness, may I depend upon your mercy, and on this build my hopes, as on a sure foundation. Let the infinite mercy of Christ Jesus deliver me from despair and disbelief, both now and at the hour of my death.
Amen.
(adapted from Thomas Wilson, 1663-1755)
Julie Canlis
Author
Zechariah and Elizabeth
Merrill R. Miller
Digital art diptych
About the Artist and Art:
Merrill R. Miller is an artist who works in graphic design, photography, illustration, and occasionally ceramics, wood, sand and snow. This diptych portrays Zechariah and Elizabeth, the parents of John the Baptist. On the left, Zechariah stands in the temple and in the presence of the angel Gabriel who has just announced to him that his barren wife Elizabeth would give birth to a son, the spiritual forerunner of the Lord. On the right the angelic announcement has been fulfilled as Elizabeth stands pregnant in her home.
About the Music:
“Song of Luke” (The Announcement of the Birth of John the Baptist)
Lyrics:
In the days of King Herod of Judea
There was a priest named Zechariah
Of the priestly division of Abija.
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 company of 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 grow before him in the spirit and power of Elijah,
To turn the hearts of fathers to 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.”
Then 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 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.”
About the Composer:
Cyprian Consiglio (b. 1958) is a Camaldolese monk, musician and teacher. Camaldolese monks are part of the Benedictine family of monastic communities and follow the way of life outlined in the Rule of Saint Benedict established in the 6th century. Musically Cyprian is a composer, singer, guitarist, recording artist and producer. Through his retreat and teaching work, and through his music, he hopes to foster contemplative experiences for his audiences. He currently lives with his monastic community at the New Camaldoli Hermitage in Big Sur, California.
About the Performers:
Founded in 1982 by Larry Bandfield, the Santa Fe Desert Chorale is one of the longest continually performing professional music organizations in New Mexico. The composition of the Chorale is truly national in scope with artists drawn from coast to coast. Over the past year, the Santa Fe Desert Chorale has taken significant steps to engage in innovative collaborations with other leading arts and culture institutions to inspire diverse audiences with the beauty and power of great choral music.
Founded in 2005 by pianists Vassa Shevel and Inessa Zaretzky, the Phoenix Chamber Ensemble has sought to share its passion for classical repertoire in a warm, intimate setting. Over the course of a decade the ensemble has become a vital part of the New York classical community, presenting more than 40 public concerts at Manhattan’s Center for Jewish History. The ensemble has garnered a devoted following with its innovative programming and sensitive interpretations, and has also collaborated with numerous guest artists.
http://www.phoenixchamberensemble.com/
About the Poet:
Henry Constable (1562 – 1613) was an English poet, known particularly for Diana, one of the first English sonnet sequences. Constable was highly reputed as a poet in his own day and his Diana, a sequence of twenty-three sonnets, was one of the first sonnets sequences in English. Constable's verse is characterized by fervor and richness of color.