Today’s reading in my Daily Reflections for Advent points to Luke 1. So much occurs in that chapter I can only hit the high points. Elizabeth (Mary’s sister), who was barren and, along with her mute husband, Zechariah, was “well along in years,” (Luke 1:7) gives birth to a son. Rather than, as is tradition, name the child after Zechariah or a family member, Elizabeth wants to name the child John, fulfilling the direction of an angel who appeared to Zechariah. Luke 1:11-14 (Zechariah had been struck mute when he doubted an angel about the prophecy told him of his son, having the audacity to ask: “How can I be sure of this?” Luke 1:18-20) Others are not happy with Elizabeth’s choice of names, so they go to Zechariah, who, writes “His name is John” on a tablet, and immediately regains the ability to speak.
I love the next verse: “The neighbors were filled with awe, and throughout the hill country of Judea people were talking about all these things.” (NIV) You bet they did! I particularly like the King James rendition of the “talking about all these things” – that with regard to these events, people “noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judaea.” While I am no Biblical scholar, my translation of that would read: “People’s tongues started waggin’ with gossip about all these things.” How could they not!
Zechariah doubted the angelic prophecy about John the Baptist. Mary doubted the angelic prophecy about Jesus – “How can this be….” Luke 1:34 Amidst their doubt, people started talking. Hang on here — It is almost as if Bonnie Raitt has this all in mind when she wrote in Something To Talk About:
People are talkin’, talkin’ ’bout people
I hear them whisper, you won’t believe it.
Zechariah, Elizabeth, and Mary, of course, tamp their doubt and concern down and find enough faith to allow the rest of the story to occur. Which channels the chorus from the same song:
Let’s give them something to talk about
Let’s give them something to talk about
Let’s give them something to talk about
How about love?
And indeed, they delivered on that promise. Christmas.
It occurs to me... 