After those days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she remained in seclusion. She said, ‘This is what the Lord has done for me when he looked favourably on me and took away the disgrace I have endured among my people." (Luke 1: 24-25)

Like Elizabeth, most of us are sure - good or bad - that "this is what the Lord has done for me."

What a contrast to both Zechariah and Elizabeth is the annunciation story that Luke inserts here. When Gabriel brings weirdly wonderful and deeply troubling news to her, Mary responds, "Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word."

John was born to Zechariah and Elizabeth to prepare the way for the coming of the Lord. It was not God's way of vindicating their pride or even soothing their sorrow.

I am constantly learning and relearning that the universe does not revolve around me. I have a role to play, but it has been modest and indirect.

Whatever we encounter, may we find the humble wisdom to respond, "Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word."

Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah, and wondered at his delay in the sanctuary. When he did come out, he could not speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He kept motioning to them and remained unable to speak. When his time of service was ended, he went to his home. (Luke 1: 21-23)

For years Zechariah had surely offered daily prayers for children, and especially for a son and heir. But as the years passed and his prayers were not answered, he accepted his situation. So much so that when the prayer was dramatically answered, Zechariah did not believe what he was hearing or seeing. Fully embracing the present includes remaining open to change.

Zechariah said to the angel, ‘How will I know that this is so? For I am an old man, and my wife is getting on in years.’ The angel replied, ‘I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. But now, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time, you will become mute, unable to speak, until the day these things occur.’ (Luke 1:18-20)

Even a priest in the temple hearing good news from an angel finds it difficult to believe.

When the best response would be a joyous shout, we join Zechariah in trembling disbelief.

In fear we have become essentially mute, our words as weak as our faith.

You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. "For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will drink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother's womb. "And he will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God. "It is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers back to the children, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord." (Luke 1:14-17)

God seeks our help. From Abraham, to Joseph, to Moses and onto Peter, Paul, and Mary (both sets) God acts principally and usually through his flawed and fearful children.

Each of us has a role in making ready a people prepared for the Lord. It begins with preparing ourselves, but this cannot be achieved alone. We prepare ourselves through our relationships with others.

He is now to be among you at the calling of your hearts. Rest assured this troubador is acting on His part. The union of your spirits here has caused Him to remain, for whenever two or more of you are gathered in His name, There is love. There is love.

Oh, a man shall leave his mother, and a woman leave her home. They will travel on to where the two will be as one. As it was in the beginning, is now until the end, woman draws her life from man and gives it back again and there is love. Oh, there's love.

Well then what's to be the reason for becoming man and wife? Is it love that brings you here or love that brings you life? For is loving is the answer then who's the giving for? Do you believe in something that you've never seen before? Oh, there's love. There is love.

He is now to be among you at the calling of your hearts. Rest assured this troubador is acting on His part. The union of your spirits here has caused Him to remain for whenever two or more of you are gathered in His name there is love. Oh, there is love.

We each have a role in calling and responding to God.

Above is St. John the Baptist by Leonardo Da Vinci. There is Love was written by Paul Stookey for the marriage of Peter Yarrow (both of Peter, Paul, and Mary) to Marybeth McCarthy.

Once when he was serving as priest before God and his section was on duty, he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and offer incense. Now at the time of the incense-offering, the whole assembly of the people was praying outside. Then there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was terrified; and fear overwhelmed him. But the angel said to him, ‘Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John. (Luke 1:8-13)

The Gospel of Luke opens with John's story. Nothing similar to it - not even the family relationship of John and Jesus - is referenced in the other gospels.

Most scholars consider the claim that John and Jesus were cousins to be propaganda. If so, the gospel writer must have considered John especially important to his principally Greek audience of first and second generation "friends of God." To have John descend from a priestly family is an interesting choice, especially if the narrative is more persuasion than history.

My great-grandfather, grandfather, and father were all named Fred or Frederick. I was named Philip (meaning lover of horses). My father explained that my mother chose my name. Mom said she was reading a book at the time in which the main character's name was Philip.

Before I was ten, the character in that book became Philip, King of Macedon, father of Alexander the Greek. I am no longer certain that my Mom told me this and my Mom's memory is unreliable. I may have made it up.

But it became a sufficiently important element to my internal narrative that I named my son Alexander (meaning gift to humanity). Whether factually true or not, the story of my relationship to Philip of Macedon has become important in itself.

In the days of King Herod of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly order of Abijah. His wife was a descendant of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. Both of them were righteous before God, living blamelessly according to all the commandments and regulations of the Lord. But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were getting on in years. (Luke 1:5-7)

Yesterday was the feast of the nativity of John the Baptist, who Luke tells us was the cousin of Jesus and who Luke and others tell us was a teacher and baptizer of Jesus.

There is also a sense that John and Jesus -- or at least their followers -- were competitors as well, and the competition continued long after the death of each.

Over the next few weeks I will look to scripture, tales, and secular history to better understand this John and how his story may help us better understand Jesus.