Wednesday, December 11, 2019 – Advent Three
“Then the angel said, ‘I am Gabriel! I stand in the very presence of God. It was he who sent me to bring you this good news! But now, since you didn’t believe what I said, you will be silent and unable to speak until the child is born. For my words will certainly be fulfilled at the proper time.’” (Luke  1: 19 – 20, New Living Translation) 

                This year, Christmas seems to be coming in a box. Or more accurately, make that plural as in many boxes. Susan has been taking full advantage of on-line shopping and the boxers are piling up. If they start singing to me like in the TV commercial, I may have to lay off the eggnog.

                Of course, plain-old, carboard  boxes hold all sorts of mysteries. Our daughter tells us that our little three-old Spencer is agog at the arrival of boxes in their household. He is dying to know what is in all those boxes. Being told that it is secret, only, I believe, intensifies his curiosity to know what wonderful things may lie therein. His little instincts sense that some of these surprises are probably for him. He can hardly wait for Christmas.

                I, myself, have been known to pinch a gift or two, although truth be told I also enjoy the anticipation and  enjoyment of opening up a gift on Christmas day and being surprised by its contents. It is a joy to share the moment with the family member who has lovingly gone out of their way to make the gift uniquely suit me.

But oh, the mystery of boxes.

Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth were getting on in years. They were a very devout and faithful couple, deeply religious it would seem, and I expect at their age it would take a lot to surprise them. One regret was that they had never had children. The timing for that had just about passed them by, so they probably settled into the ruts and routines of their lives, saddened by their barrenness, but content in their stable, steady and constant life.

Then, Gabriel shows up with a “box”!

Since Gabriel can’t keep a Christmas secret,  he tells Zechariah what’s in the box. “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give you a son, and you are to name him John. You will have great joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the eyes of the Lord.” (vss. 13-15)

Sometimes we think of ourselves as too old or too smart or that we have seen everything that we are suspicious of surprise packages, especially of the sacred and incredible kind. There is a little Zechariah in many of us and our first instinct is to greet Good News with skepticism or disbelief, maybe even distrust, the too-good-to-be-true syndrome. “How will I know this is so?” (v.18)

Show us what is really in the box. It’s probably just underwear and socks. (Our family joke about the contents of Christmas presents, when asked.) Maybe some bubble gum. (Ditto.)

Zechariah is looking for assurances and proof – quite natural under the circumstances. He wants to see in the box before he accepts it.

The UPS messenger, Gabriel, is not amused by Zechariah’s suspicious nature and he ends up making Zechariah wait, literally shutting him up until the baby John is born. And then when he understood what’s in this wondrous box – Good News – you can’t shut him up. “Instantly Zechariah could speak again, and he began praising God.” (1:64)

All this drama suggests that we need to be open to the wondrous gift who is delivered to us each and every Christmas – the Good News of Jesus Christ, the unique Son of God, who, himself delivers God’s Love, Grace, Hope, Joy, and Peace to us. Let’s us anticipate with excitement and eagerness the arrival of the One who comes. Don’t settle for this Gift to seem just ordinary or mundane. Angels don’t arrive just everyday with surprise packages that portend so much positive and dynamic energy.

“Because of God’s tender mercy,  

the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us,

to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, 

and to guide us to the path of peace.” (1:78 -79) 

Dale