I have not been able to find this passage in the 3 year lectionary cycle. However, I think it is a great passage for Advent. In fact, it even has the word prepare in it!! I am beginning to use Luke 1 for Advent season.
Summary: This passage has some great theological nuggets around theodicy: Even though Elizabeth and Zachariah are declared righteous, they still struggle with infertility and later disbelief of God's messengers!
It is also interesting that Zachariah's disbelief is that God could be so good and powerful. We can serve in the temple, we can do godly things, but do we really trust God!? Zachariah would trust the casting of lots but not the word of the angel!!
Key Words:
διηγησις ('diagesis', meaning narrative, Luke 1:1) Sometimes we speak of exegesis -- drawing things out of a Bible passage through analysis and hopefully prayer. We are warned against inegesis -- putting ourselves in the story. Luke commends us to something different here -- diagesis -- in which we walk alongside of the text, in conversation, putting in and pulling out from it.
κατηχηθης (from κατηχεω, which sounded out is 'catechethes', Luke 1:4) Luke reminds us that the early church took seriously the task of catechesis, of passing on the story of Jesus to the next generation.
Side note: It is for this reason that I no longer right people who want to have Christmas songs and stories before Dec 24 or Dec 25. I take seriously my job to pass along the story.
δικαιοι (meaning righteous, Luke 1:6) She is righteous, yet barren, after what we can assume were years of prayers.
ελαχε (from λαγχανω, meaning lots, Luke 1:9) In the ancient temple they drew lots. A reminder that it is often hard to discern the will of God and perhaps leaving something to chance is okay! This story starts to get at the ways in which we trust and don't trust God!
Ιωαννης ("John", Luke 1:13) John is the English form of Iohannes, the Latin form of the Greek name Ιωαννης (Ioannes), itself derived from the Hebrew name יוֹחָנָן (Yochanan) meaning "YAHWEH is gracious", from the roots יוֹ (yo) referring to the Hebrew God and חָנַן (chanan) meaning "to be gracious". https://www.behindthename.com/name/john
(Note, that word "חננ", chanan, is found in Psalm 51, "Have mercy on me!") This is an Old Testament name, found in the later parts. It is linguistically different than Jonathan (The Lord gives).
It is interesting than that the pregnancy, Elizabeth claims, has taken away her disgrace (ονειδος, 1:25); John "delivers" in her "delivery."
χαρα and χαηρσονται (χαιρω) (meaning "joy" and "rejoicing", Luke 1:14) The word joy will reappear throughout the Gospel, including with Mary, the 'lost and found' parables and then the resurrection!
Side note: Luke 1:17 and Elijah turning the hearts is a reference to Malachi 4:6. Last verse of the Old Testament (the Christian ordering) is a promise of God to bring reconciliation in to families.
κατεσκευασμενον (from κατασκευαζω, meaning "prepare, build, construct, furnish, equip", Luke 1:17) This is the question -- how do we prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ. Or more basically, which coming do you want to emphasize in our church this Christmas? The pre-revised-common lectionary focused on the coming of Jesus in Jerusalem, the coming of Jesus in glory and the coming of Jesus in his ministry in middle age. I am willing to focus on the coming of Jesus as a baby because I feel our cultural patterns mean we miss out on the season of incarnation. But maybe this is a mistake, but I will willing to cast my lots, so to speak.
