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A Miracle of Angelic Proportions
Fourth Sunday of Advent
Have you ever been given a special assignment? I suppose I have, but I best remember my kids in their elementary school years being excited to be chosen as the teacher’s messenger.
They’d take the attendance report and other notes to the office — so important! I’m sure they felt shivers of giddiness to get to leave the classroom and fulfill an essential role.
The Bible offers a variety of angelic encounters, but the ones we think about, sing about, are most relevant in the Christmas story. I’ve already written this advent season about the results of encounters with the angelic messenger Gabriel here and here.
In Luke 1, Zechariah has an encounter with Gabriel, who tells the old man that he and his wife are going to have a son that they’ll name John. Well, past childbearing years, the couple are astounded by the news, but Zechariah doesn’t seem to be surprised by the angelic presence.
Mary also meets Gabriel, who tells her she’s going to have a son (conceived of God) that she’ll name Jesus. She, too, merely ponders the news. Now, I don’t believe that people of that time were immune to surprise or accustomed to angelic visitations, but it sure is “funny” how these angelic appearances are taken rather in stride.
