Elizabeth and Zechariah--Do I think God can speak to me?

 Throughout the season of Pentecost (from now until Advent 1 on November 30), we’ll be looking at various women and men from scripture who exemplify how God works in all ages, and how we can learn from them to share our legacy of faith. The Spirit of the Living God does not just work in clergy or in the young or in a single gender. The Spirit of God can and does act in us all. Sometimes, though, we are not ready to hear the call and promise of God’s action.

We’ll start the series with Elizabeth and Zechariah. We meet them in the Gospel of Luke 1: 1:5-25 and 39-80. It’s a familiar story that we hear during Advent every year. Take time to read it in your favorite translation and in a version that isn’t as familiar, like the one at the end of this meditation from The Message.

Was there anything different that surprised you between the translations? Was there something that made you pause and think about the story in a new way?

For me, it has always been Zechariah’s argument with Gabriel. Zechariah said to the angel, “Do you expect me to believe this? I’m an old man and my wife is an old woman.” He, seemingly, cannot get past the physical reality of being old.

It is easy to slip into that mindset, I think. Society too often gives the impression that anyone over 60 or 70 is incapable of doing anything useful. They should be content to go on cruises and take their medications until they get sick and die.

That is not how God acts. Through Gabriel, God tells Zechariah, Every word I’ve spoken to you will come true on time—God’s time. There is a price to pay for arguing with God’s messenger—Zechariah is struck dumb until the child is born.

Elizabeth responds differently to the news, and to becoming pregnant. She went off by herself for five months, relishing her pregnancy. “So, this is how God acts to remedy my unfortunate condition!” she said. I particularly like The Message version. It is more positive than the traditional wording that she hid herself for five months. Instead, she is relishing her pregnancy. She is rejoicing in being a vessel for God’s action.

Because she is celebrating and in tune with the Spirit’s action in her life, she recognizes Mary as blessed among women, and the babe in your womb, also blessed! And why am I so blessed that the mother of my Lord visits me? The two women offer support to each other in song and action for the next three months. Elizabeth encourages Mary and Mary brings her joy to the household. It must have been a joyous three months. Then Mary returns home and Elizabeth gives birth.

Everyone assumes the child will be named for his father. After all, the old man has waited a long time to have a namesake. But it is not to be, on the eighth day, they came to circumcise the child and were calling him Zechariah after his father. But his mother intervened: “No. He is to be called John.”…They used sign language to ask Zechariah what he wanted him named…Zechariah wrote, “His name is to be John.” That took everyone by surprise. Surprise followed surprise—Zechariah’s mouth was now open, his tongue loose, and he was talking, praising God!

Elizabeth speaks up, and Zechariah supports her naming of the child as John just as Gabriel had told him. Then Zechariah can praise God.   

How would you feel if you were Elizabeth or Zechariah? Try to put yourself into the story. Or perhaps you are one of the neighbors…

Next week we’ll think more deeply about how we can relate to this couple.

^5-7 During the rule of Herod, King of Judea, there was a priest assigned service in the regiment of Abijah. His name was Zechariah. His wife was descended from the daughters of Aaron. Her name was Elizabeth. Together they lived honorably before God, careful in keeping to the ways of the commandments and enjoying a clear conscience before God. But they were childless because Elizabeth could never conceive, and now they were quite old.

^8-12 It so happened that as Zechariah was carrying out his priestly duties before God, working the shift assigned to his regiment, it came his one turn in life to enter the sanctuary of God and burn incense. The congregation was gathered and praying outside the Temple at the hour of the incense offering. Unannounced, an angel of God appeared just to the right of the altar of incense. Zechariah was paralyzed in fear.

^13-15 But the angel reassured him, “Don’t fear, Zechariah. Your prayer has been heard. Elizabeth, your wife, will bear a son by you. You are to name him John. You’re going to leap like a gazelle for joy, and not only you—many will delight in his birth. He’ll achieve great stature with God.

^15-17 “He’ll drink neither wine nor beer. He’ll be filled with the Holy Spirit from the moment he leaves his mother’s womb. He will turn many sons and daughters of Israel back to their God. He will herald God’s arrival in the style and strength of Elijah, soften the hearts of parents to children, and kindle devout understanding among hardened skeptics—he’ll get the people ready for God.”

¹⁸ Zechariah said to the angel, “Do you expect me to believe this? I’m an old man and my wife is an old woman.”

^19-20 But the angel said, “I am Gabriel, the sentinel of God, sent especially to bring you this glad news. But because you won’t believe me, you’ll be unable to say a word until the day of your son’s birth. Every word I’ve spoken to you will come true on time—God’s time.”

^21-22 Meanwhile, the congregation waiting for Zechariah was getting restless, wondering what was keeping him so long in the sanctuary. When he came out and couldn’t speak, they knew he had seen a vision. He continued speechless and had to use sign language with the people.

^23-25 When the course of his priestly assignment was completed, he went back home. It wasn’t long before his wife, Elizabeth, conceived. She went off by herself for five months, relishing her pregnancy. “So, this is how God acts to remedy my unfortunate condition!” she said…

^39-45 Mary didn’t waste a minute. She got up and traveled to a town in Judah in the hill country, straight to Zechariah’s house, and greeted Elizabeth…⁵⁶ Mary stayed with Elizabeth for three months and then went back to her own home.

^57-58 When Elizabeth was full-term in her pregnancy, she gave birth to a son. Her neighbors and relatives, seeing that God had overwhelmed her with mercy, celebrated with her.

^59-60 On the eighth day, they came to circumcise the child and were calling him Zechariah after his father. But his mother intervened: “No. He is to be called John.”

^61-62 “But,” they said, “no one in your family is named that.” They used sign language to ask Zechariah what he wanted him named.

^63-64 Asking for a tablet, Zechariah wrote, “His name is to be John.” That took everyone by surprise. Surprise followed surprise—Zechariah’s mouth was now open, his tongue loose, and he was talking, praising God!

^65-66 A deep, reverential fear settled over the neighborhood, and in all that Judean hill country people talked about nothing else. Everyone who heard about it took it to heart, wondering, “What will become of this child? Clearly, God has his hand in this.”

^67-79 Then Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied,

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel;
    he came and set his people free.
He set the power of salvation in the center of our lives,
    and in the very house of David his servant,
Just as he promised long ago
    through the preaching of his holy prophets:
Deliverance from our enemies
    and every hateful hand;
Mercy to our fathers,
    as he remembers to do what he said he’d do,
What he swore to our father Abraham—
    a clean rescue from the enemy camp,
So we can worship him without a care in the world,
    made holy before him as long as we live.

And you, my child, “Prophet of the Highest,”
    will go ahead of the Master to prepare his ways,
Present the offer of salvation to his people,
    the forgiveness of their sins.
Through the heartfelt mercies of our God,
    God’s Sunrise will break in upon us,
Shining on those in the darkness,
    those sitting in the shadow of death,
Then showing us the way, one foot at a time,
    down the path of peace.

⁸⁰ The child grew up, healthy and spirited. He lived out in the desert until the day he made his prophetic debut in Israel. (Luke 1:5-25, 39-80, The Message)

On Entering Pentecost

 When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability (Acts 1:1-4)

This is a pretty awe-inspiring scene that we hear about every year on Pentecost. It can be too easy to relegate the coming of the Holy Spirit to far-off times and places. However, God and the Spirit are not constrained. The Spirit of God blows on each of us throughout our life. Take some time to think about when and where and how that has happened to you.

As we enter the long season of Pentecost, I will be launching a new series, looking at women and men in the Bible who felt the power of the Spirit even in their ‘old age’. God finds and uses us in any quarter of life. The gifts we’ve been cultivating throughout life can still be fruitful and a blessing to others—even (esp.) those younger.

In May of 2025, Mark Roberts of the De Pree Institute wrote, “The desire to make a difference for the next generations is built into our mental, emotional, and spiritual DNA. It also shows up in Scripture. For example, we read in Psalm 71:17-18: O God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds. So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to all the generations to come. The psalm writer’s desire to proclaim God’s might “to all the generations to come” is a classic example of generativity.” (Generativity, Roberts notes, “could be described as a deep desire to leave a legacy for the future, not just a financial legacy, but a legacy of excellence, example, empowerment, and encouragement.”) 

I think that is what many of us are seeking, a way to leave a legacy of hope, especially in a deeply troubled and fractured world. Psalm 71:14-15 promises, As for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more. My mouth will tell of your righteous deeds, of your saving acts all day long… The aged persons in the Bible can teach us how to build and leave and share that legacy of faith, hope and love.

Various studies and authors note that the last third of life is a time of releasing and sharing what we have accumulated. That is not just material things, although we may be divesting ourselves from much of that. It is a desire to share the marvelous deeds of God in our lives. To give our testimony so that the next generation can be inspired.

Western society may look at the 60’s and beyond as a time when the ‘old folks’ are put out to pasture. Sometimes it can feel like we are subtly being pushed aside in ministry. It is good to make room for the younger generation, certainly. They need to take their place in the life of the parish and community, AND, we can empower them.

Many societies have a more intimate and caring relationship with their elders. They understand there is much that can be learned from white haired women and men because elders are keepers of knowledge and heritage. Elders are to be listened to, honored, and learned from. Elders have time to sit and tell the stories of the past so it is not lost and so it is learned from. When we look at the lives and faith of Bible women, and men, who are known to have lived a long life, we can find inspiration for ways to encourage and empower others without seeming to force our faith and reminiscences on them. We can sit at their feet and learn how we are empowered by the Holy Spirit and able to encourage and empower others, of all ages.

Each month we will look at a pair of Biblical elders, hear their story, ponder how the Spirit of God worked in their lives, consider how we relate and can be inspired by their witness to allow the Spirit to move in our lives.

Next week, we’ll start with Elizabeth and Zechariah with the basic question of “Do I think God can still talk to me when I’m old?”  

Easter 6: One Body

 We return to Jesus’ “Farewell Discourse” in this final Sunday before Pentecost (John 17:20-26). At the Last Supper, Jesus commends the disciples and those who will believe in me through their word to God. (That’s us!) He prays that we [and they] may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me… so that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.

What exactly does that mean to our lives 2000 years later? How do we live ‘completely one’ in a world so fragmented? Can we attempt to live as if we believed God truly has given us the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them?

Throughout Lent, we looked at various women in the Bible as inspirations for ways to witness and live love. This is not sugary, hearts and flowers love. It is boots-on-the-ground, in the mud, struggling with real life issues kind of love. It is love that, hard as it seems, sees everyone as a child of God. Sees not the ‘other’ but a sister or brother in the image of God.

Next week, we celebrate Pentecost when the Holy Spirit was given to the first disciples as they gathered forty days after the Resurrection. The Spirit empowered this motley group of ex-fishermen and ex-tax collectors and others to speak truth to power. It enabled Peter to stand up to the High Priest and say, “Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified [is] the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.” (Acts 4:10-11)

That same Spirit is in us, 2000 years later. That same Spirit enables us to do the hard work of loving neighbor as self—of seeing God in each other. By the Spirit we are empowered to use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. (1 Peter 4:10)

We are One Body. However, as 1 Corinthians notes we don’t all work in the same way. We are many parts, and one body. (1 Corinthians 12) I think this image of Mr. Potato Head can remind us that it really does take all the various parts to make up one whole.

Your gift may be to serve as apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up. (Ephesians 4:11-12) Or it may be as a cook or parent or pilot or writer or pray-er or… whoever you are and whatever your gift is.

When our life and work is done in love, we can be assured that we will hear what the Revelation reading this week promises. (Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21) Ultimately, we’ll hear The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” And let everyone who hears say, “Come.” And let everyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who wishes take the water of life as a gift.

How can we each use our gifts to build Beloved Community where we are One Body?

Easter 6: Lydia

 We are six weeks into the Easter Season. We may have forgotten the joyful “Alleluias” of the day. Life with its challenges has moved forward and gotten in the way of exuberant joy. Even the readings seem to have moved on from Resurrection stories. However, if you look at each Biblical story deeply, isn’t it a story of a resurrection of some kind? Can’t we find new and renewed life in each story?

The Tower of Babel seems like a catastrophe. All the languages are confused, and people are scattered. AND that’s the start of new lives in many places and ways.

The Exodus is obviously a story of resurrection from the slavery in Egypt, but it starts with the sorrow of many mothers over the death of their sons. Jochebed is brave and her action saves her son, who saves the nation.

Jonah in the big fish is a tale of running away from God, and of returning to God. Jonah finds his calling and resurrection in doing God’s will, even if it’s not what he wanted to do.

The reading today from Acts 16:9-15 is also a resurrection story. Paul has a vision and sets out for Macedonia with Silas. He arrives in Philippi, a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. Paul and his companions decide to go to a place of prayer by the river, where he preaches to the women who had gathered there. (Note that he speaks to WOMEN!)

There he meets a woman named Lydia, a worshiper of God…from the city of Thyatira and a dealer in purple cloth. Lydia is remarkable in many respects. She is a woman who is a merchant. Not just any regular bazaar salesperson, though. Purple cloth was reserved for the elite, so she had a specialized clientele. She has traveled 300 miles from her home city of Thyatira (a city in what is now Turkey). We can infer that she lives in Philippi because she invites Paul and his friends to stay at her home.

More importantly, because of Paul’s preaching, the Lord opened her heart to listen eagerly, [and] she and her household were baptized. This Gentile woman in a foreign country hears and accepts the Good News. She has a resurrection experience.

We don’t know what happened to Lydia after her baptism. Lydia is traditionally regarded as the first European convert. The Eastern Orthodox Church gives her the title “Equal to the Apostles”, a designation for saints who were active in converting others. There is still a church and baptistry in Philippi dedicated to her.

We do know, from the rest of Acts 16, that Paul stays in Philippi several days, meeting and teaching at the river. He heals a demon possessed slave girl causing his imprisonment, miraculous release, and the baptism of the jailer and his family. He then leaves Philippi and later writes a letter to the church at Philippi.

Lydia’s life underwent a resurrection transformation when she accepted Jesus as Lord. It seems, although not stated in scripture, that a church community formed in Philippi perhaps in her home, and that it grew to be large enough to warrant a follow-up letter from Paul. This letter stresses joy in the Lord and unity in community.

Like the men and women throughout the Bible, our lives are full of little and big resurrection experiences. A new job or new child are obvious ways that new life is experienced. It may just be a striking insight from a mediation or Bible passage. Perhaps you find joy and life in serving in an old or new way, or just offering a smile to a stranger. We don’t always know when our actions can create a resurrection experience for someone else—someone who is having a bad day and needed that smile to help them make it through.

What would you consider a resurrection experience in your life today or recently?

Think of some other Bible stories and consider where the resurrection is in them.

Easter 5: Love One Another

 Our Lent and Easter journey has all been grounded in the truth found in the Gospel for Easter 5. In John 13:31-35 we hear Jesus tell his disciples, “Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’ I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

There is the hymn that says, “They’ll know we are Christians by our love” (#429 in the hymnal). The author is Peter Scholtes who wrote it while serving as parish priest at St. Brendan's, Chicago in the mid-60s. Sholtes needed a song for the youth choir to use at a series of ecumenical, interracial events. When he couldn't find one he liked; he wrote this one in a day.

The hymn begins with the reminder that, despite our differences, “We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord. And we pray that our unity will one day be restored.” The words call us to “work with each other…we'll guard each man's dignity and save each man's pride [so] they'll know we are Christians by our love.”

The prayer of the words of this hymn are as pertinent and true now as they were 60 years ago in the heart of the Civil Rights movement. As Jesus prayed for his disciples to love one another, we are called into the lineage of those who have loved throughout the centuries.

The love of God that lives in each of us, through the power of the Holy Spirit, is the true way that everyone recognizes that we are Christians. Division and hatred have no room in a heart offered to God and open to loving even the stranger and those with differing ideologies. Love stands for the right and confronts evil, not with anger, but with love.

And that is the much harder route. In his book, Love is the Way, Bishop Michael Curry gives concrete examples of living love. He quotes Martin Buber who says, “Love is the responsibility for an I for a You.” Curry urges us to treat one another as “thou’s” instead of “its”. From this perspective, everyone is a neighbor deserving of our care.

Bishop Curry looks at “the dance of nonviolent change in the church, country, and world” as learning to “stand and kneel at the same time.” He means we are allowed to “stand in your own conviction,” even as we “kneel before another’s anger” in acknowledgement of their right to their interpretation and beliefs.

It may seem very difficult to live love in relation to those we disagree with or fear. It cannot be done with our own strength. Jesus promises the Holy Spirit and says God is glorified when we love one another. Bishop Curry ends his book with encouragement. “So don’t give up on love. Listen to it. Trust it. Give into it. Obey it.” Let the Love of God fill you and spill out in song and action and life.

Think about the hardest part of ‘living love’ as you view a rendition of Scholtes’ hymn.

Easter 4: Dorcas

 Continuing our journey in Easter-tide, we hear a miraculous story from Acts (9:36-43). Peter prays for a woman named Tabitha (Dorcas) who was devoted to good works and acts of charity. She has died and her friends send for Peter who is preaching nearby. He arrives and is shown tunics and other clothing that Dorcas had made. Peter prays for her and she revives. Because of this many believed in the Lord.

Dorcas has a new chance to live and do good in the name of the Lord. She is not the only one in the Bible to get a new life. Bathsheba and Esther do not physically die, but they experience a death of their expectations and life as they knew it.

Bathsheba is the wife of Uriah the Hittite until King David sees her, rapes her, and murders her husband in a battle. (2 Samuel 11-12) Then she becomes David’s wife—a new form of life certainly and one she may or may not have wanted. However, she makes the best of it, and many years later petitions him to have her son Solomon anointed as David’s successor (1 Kings 1-2).

Esther also has her world upended by a king’s whim. When Darius desires a wife to replace Vashti, he has local virgins rounded up for him to try out. After the preparation regime, Esther pleases the king. She becomes his queen and favorite wife. However, that doesn’t mean she is free to come to him anytime she wants. It is all up to the king. When she is faced with the choice of going to him to plead for the Jewish people, she must decide if she will risk her life or let them be killed. With cunning she confronts Haman who wants to destroy the Jewish people and secures safety for them.

Both women end up doing good even when they had seemingly no choice in how their lives were being run. As I state in Sacred Story: Yours, Mine, Ours, “Bathsheba and Esther call us to live into the truth our Sacred Story, rise above shame, look for justice, and experience resilience. Bathsheba and Esther did not expect to be catalysts for God’s work. Their God-given courage and yes, beauty, brought change and justice into unjust situations. Our Sacred Story embodies all our gifts. We are meant to use those gifts for justice and truth for ourselves and for others who may not have a voice.”

We can work for justice, like Esther did, no matter what our circumstances. In the book, I said, “Both Bathsheba and Esther were the voice of God to those in power in their time. Bathsheba stood up for herself by calling out David and saying, “this is your child.” Ultimately David did the ‘right thing’ by taking her into his household...Both Esther and Bathsheba were able to find their worth in truth telling. We can share our Sacred Story when we learn to believe that God is in all Sacred Story and is all Love” Verna Dozier, in The Dream of God: A Call to Return writes, “Faith is a straightforward decision for the kingdom of God. To believe in God is to believe that goodness is more powerful than evil, and truth is stronger than falsehood. To believe in God is to believe that in the end goodness and truth will triumph over evil and falsehood.”

This is a truth we need to take to heart, perhaps esp. in times when falsehood masquerades as truth and evil seems to triumph. This has been true throughout most of history, of course. In my book, I note, “It takes courage to confront injustice in any form. It takes faith to trust that God will bring healing and resilience even in the worst situations. Sometimes the best we can do is listen…When we seek Love and Faith and Justice, we [are building] Beloved Community.” Choosing faith and justice and love over falsehood, evil, and hate is what it means to be working for the Kingdom of God.

In what ways am I being called to name and confront injustice and choose the Kingdom of God? 

Easter 3: Do you Love Me?

 This week we hear the Easter story of Jesus appearing to Peter and other disciples by the Sea of Tiberias as they are fishing (John 21:1-19). In a scene reminiscent of their original call to follow, the men have caught nothing. Jesus tells them, Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some. Sure enough, there was an abundance of fish. Then disciple whom Jesus loved recognizes that the stranger is Jesus. Peter leaps into the water and swims to shore. The others follow with the boat and fish only to find Jesus has already cooked breakfast on the beach. After they eat, Jesus asks Peter the important question that will reconcile him back into relationship, do you love me. Peter responds three times, you know that I love you. After his triple denial of Jesus at the home of Caiaphas, Peter is forgiven, seen, and restored.

Many in the Hebrew Scriptures are also seen by God, forgiven and restored to relationship. Among them are Hagar and Miriam. Hagar runs away from her mistress, Sarah the wife of Abraham, and is found by the One she names El-Roi, “The God who Sees.” Miriam, sister of Moses, rebels against his leadership, becomes leprous and then is healed and reconciled back into the community.

From the beginning, God is God who desires to bring back those of us who have gone astray in whatever way. The only question God asks is “Do you love me?” However hesitantly we may respond ‘Yes,’ that is enough.

In Sacred Story: Yours, Mine, Ours, I note, “God comes to each of us when we feel that we’ve reach a point of no return. For Miriam it was her brother’s return, claiming to be the Deliverer. For Hagar it was being alone in the desert and fearing her son would die. For us, it can be a job loss, or health crisis, or faith challenge. It can be a past so traumatic that we feel trapped by it, or personal choices that have left us feeling broken and useless and unlovable. Look around—God is right there waiting to give you living water and manna and show you a way forward...Hagar and Miriam were faced with the de-humanization of a life of slavery. Yet, God truly saw, loved, and knew each of them. God showed Miriam and Hagar a road through the wilderness. God still does that, for me and for you.”

Osheta Moore invites us to the holy way to reconcile with one another and to God. She says, “[love helps us] begin to ask ourselves what we’re for instead of what we’re against…Belovedness is a massive act of owning and accepting your humanness as a gift from a God who deeply loves you…” 

Owning our human-ness and beloved-ness can be hard when we are in a time of grief or crisis or pain or feeling unseen.God is indeed El-Roi, the God who Sees—God sees us in our brokenness and hurt and hurtfulness. God sees our pain and loneliness and need to control. God sees our despair and grief and fear. God then says, ‘try fishing on the other side.’ God invites us to breakfast and then quietly asks, ‘do you love me?’ Being seen can help us respond ‘yes’ to that question.

Jesus loved Peter back into relationship. God saw Hagar in the wilderness and showed her life-giving water. Miriam was reinstated into the Hebrew community despite her actions in fracturing that community. We can be found and recognized by our Lord, no matter what. We simply need to say ‘yes.’

How can you begin to reconcile with God and others from the posture of Love that Osheta Moore invites?

I leave you with this prayer by the Rev. Laurie Gudim: We are not blameless, dear Christ. Please forgive us once again. You are our savior. You have given us a better path. You have taught us that healing and feeding people, blessing and restoring community are what makes us whole and at peace. You have taught us that going willingly into death, full of compassion and forgiveness, is the Way of Life, the Way worth taking. You have conquered death and given us nothing more to fear. With you we know eternal life. You have taught us to love. Amen.