Disgrace Removed
December 16, Third Monday of Advent
Light first (Hope) and second (Peace) purple candles, then pink (Joy) candle
Zechariah and Elizabeth were a serious priestly power couple! Zechariah was of Abijah’s division, while Elizabeth was from the daughters of Aaron. And yet they were unable to have a baby, resulting in both real and perceived disgrace from their family and religious community. Elizabeth had been surrounded by pregnant women all of her life, but never herself experienced the morning sickness or those first movements and kicks, assuring her of the baby’s progress. She would oftentimes find herself in the birthing rooms, a support to friends, sisters and nieces, as they went through the excruciating pain of childbirth in order to experience the inexpressible joy of their baby’s birth. Having hosted or attended countless baby showers, Elizabeth never attended her own. Her old breasts ached to provide nourishment for her own child, but it was not to be.
Elizabeth joyfully supported Zechariah’s calling as priest, joining him whenever his division was serving in the temple, so proud when he was honored to be the priest who would enter into the holy place and burn incense to the LORD God. She no longer waited expectantly for signs of pregnancy. Those days were over. Being the helpmate that Zechariah needed was Elizabeth's sole purpose in life and she was grateful to be his wife.
Read Luke 1:5-25
“He’s been in there a long time,” one of Elizabeth’s relatives commented as they stood outside in the Women’s Court, praying and waiting. Zechariah had been in there for a long time. Elizabeth was trying not to worry or catastrophize, but the “what ifs” kept coming: What if he had a heart attack? What if he was struck dead because of unconfessed sin in the presence of the Holy One? Just as the worry was transitioning to full on panic, Zechariah emerged from the temple, eyes bright and smiling from ear to ear, but when he opened his mouth, nothing came out.
Zechariah wouldn't speak for at least ten months, but certainly found a way to communicate to Elizabeth all that happened in the Holy Place with the Angel Gabriel. Elizabeth was going to have a baby boy and they were to name him John. He wasn’t going to be any ordinary boy, though. He would be filled with the Holy Spirit while growing in Elizabeth’s womb. Could this be true? And then, a few weeks later, she became sicker than she’d ever been before. Nauseous and exhausted, Elizabeth looked at Zechariah knowingly, joyfully. She was pregnant!!
“The Lord has done this for me. He has looked with favor in these days to take away my disgrace among the people.” Lk 1:25
Reflect on the longest amount of time you have had to wait for something that you desperately wanted. Perhaps you are still in the season of waiting and feeling disgraced and alone. Share with someone you love and trust your longing and heartache.
Sing the first three verses of Joy to the World:
Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And heav’n and nature sing,
And heav’n and nature sing,
And heav’n, and heav’n, and nature sing.
Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns!
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.
No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as, the curse is found.
Pray for those in your family, church and community who are suffering through infertility. Ask the LORD to help you see those in your circles who feel disgraced.
Blessings,
Gay B Brown