Divine intervention
by Colleen Fitzpatrick
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‘The Lord has done this for me,’ she said. ‘In these days he has shown his favour and taken away my disgrace among the people’ (Luke 1:25).
Read Luke 1:5–25
Can you imagine what it was like for Zechariah? There he was, doing his priestly duty inside the temple, burning the incense with the worshippers outside praying, and an angel appeared. And it’s not just any angel; it’s the Archangel Gabriel himself. And there’s more – the angel tells Zechariah that he is going to father a son.
Those of you who have walked the path of childlessness may know the pain and grief that it can entail: the longing to hold your own child in your arms and to watch them grow and prosper; the yearning to share your past and your future with the next generation; the sadness of seeing others with children – made worse when it seems that they do not appreciate the gift that has been given them; the flashes of envy when friends and relatives become pregnant and have children; the sessions with doctors and specialists who poke and prod and suggest another option; the cost (physical and financial) of going through IVF; the pathos of having to respond to the question, ‘When are you going to start your family?’
Elizabeth and Zechariah’s journey may have been simpler, but their grief would have been just as genuine. Time has passed, and now the Archangel Gabriel has come with this improbable news. One can understand the scepticism that leads to Zechariah losing the ability to speak.
Not only are Elizabeth and Zechariah to become parents, but their son will live an exemplary life; he’s going to prepare the way for the Lord. What an amazing outcome for this couple!
The Archangel Gabriel may not be making appearances these days; however, the Comforter is still here for us, no matter what our problem or grief. And it is that Comforter whose birth we will celebrate once again next week.
Comforting God, thank you that you are always with us, knowing the challenges that we face, always ready to provide comfort and peace. Help us open our hearts to receive these gifts. Amen.
Colleen Fitzpatrick is retired and lives in Adelaide. She enjoys reading and writing. She particularly enjoys listening to people’s stories and telling her own stories. Colleen finds storytelling a great way to learn about people, who they are and what they do. She loves nature and the beauty of God’s creation – and wishes she could understand what her favourite magpies talk about.
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