GOSPEL OF SAINT LUKE 03 Annunciation to Zachariah
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RECAP FROM THE PREVIOUS STUDY Biblical Background and Historical Background are part of the context in which the Gospel of Saint Luke was written History is the unfolding of God s plan throughout the ages Questions we should think about: Why was Saint Gabriel sent and not Saint Michael or Saint Raphael? What is it that Zachariah did not believe? Would I have believed if I were in Zachariah s shoes? Can an angel cause a man to be mute?
PLAN OF THIS STUDY 1. Geography of the Holy Land and of the Temple 2. Reading of Luke 1:5-25 3. Gabriel s message in its biblical context 4. Zachariah s doubt 5. Gabriel s answer 6. Elizabeth s faith
Sidon Tyr Carmel Caesarea Philippi Nazareth Jerusalem Bethlehem
I WAIT FOR MY CHILDREN
THE TEMPLE OF JERUSALEM
The Holy Court of the Priests Nicanor Gate Lepers Court of Women Court of the Gentiles
Not to scale: 25 football fields
OPEN YOUR BIBLE TO LUKE 1:5-25
LUKE 1:5-25 5 In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechari'ah, of the division of Abi'jah; and he had a wife of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. 7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years.
Isaiah 7:14 God has helped Daughter of King Ahaz Abijah (Abiyah) Abijah of Judah Son of Eleazar, Son of Aaron 14 wives Failed to unite N. &S. Head of the 8 th order David Zadok Righteous 1Samuel 21:6 Abiathar Ahimelek 24 courses of priests Jehoi arib Hakkoz Jedai ah Abi jah Harim Jeshua Se-o rim Shecani ah Malchi jah Eli ashib Mij amin Jakim Huppah Jesheb e-ab Bilgah Immer Hezir Hap pizzez Pethahi ah Jehez kel Jachin Gamul Delai ah Ma-azi ah
ON RIGHTEOUSNESS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT Righteousness in the OT is the fulfillment of the demands of a relationship, whether that relationship be with men or with God There is no norm of righteousness outside the relationship itself. When God or man fulfills the conditions imposed upon him by the relationship, he is, in OT terms, righteous. David was righteous because he refused to slay Saul with whom he stood in covenant relationship (I Sam.24:17; 26:23). Righteousness does not always imply holiness. Saint Paul to the Philippians, chapter 3
PHILIPPIANS 3:4-6 4. Though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If any other man thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5. circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; as to the law a Pharisee, 6. as to zeal a persecutor of the church, as to righteousness under the law blameless. 7. But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.
ON RIGHTEOUSNESS IN THE NEW TESTAMENT On Man s perfection in Righteousness Augustine to his holy brethren and fellow bishops Eutropius and Paulus. (http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/1504.htm) Our righteousness in this pilgrimage is this: 1. We press forward to that perfect and full righteousness [Faith, Hope] 2. We hold to the rectitude and perfection of our course, [Virtues] 3. Keeping under our body and bringing it into subjection, [Virtues] 4. By doing our alms cheerfully and heartily, [Charity, Virtues] 5. Bestowing kindnesses and forgiving the trespasses which have been committed against us,[charity] 6. Continuing in prayer [Piety] 7. Doing all this with sound doctrine [Right mind according to right conscious]
IN WHAT SENSE ARE ZACHARIAH AND ELIZABETH RIGHTEOUS? Abraham and Sarah Abraham s test of faith. What did Abraham believe? According to the 1914 edition of the Roman Martyriology, Elizabeth and Zachary are canonized saints. Their feast falls on November 5 in the Roman Calendar. They were obedient to the Law because they were obedient to God and loved him. They straddled both worlds and were righteous according to the Old and the New because it is truly one righteousness.
8 Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, 9 according to the custom of the priesthood, it fell to him by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. 11 And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12 And Zechari'ah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him.
INSIDE THE HOLY Candelabra to the left Table of showbread to the right The veil of the Holy of Holies ahead The door of the Temple behind
13 But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zechari'ah, for your prayer is heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. 14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth; 15 for he will be great before the Lord, and he shall drink no wine nor strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb. 16 And he will turn many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God, 17 and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Eli'jah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared."
TO TURN THE HEARTS OF THE FATHERS TO THE CHILDREN What is the primary function of a father? It isn t what you think. Did God intend for children to be rebellious? Christmas is the inversion of order: Father Mother Child to Child Mother Father. Fatherhood and the Cross Saint Joseph, an exemplar for all fathers:
18 And Zechari'ah said to the angel, "How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years." 19 And the angel answered him, "I am Gabriel, who stand in the presence of God; and I was sent to speak to you, and to bring you this good news. 20 And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things come to pass, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time." 21 And the people were waiting for Zechari'ah, and they wondered at his delay in the temple.
ZACHARIAH S DOUBT MALACHI 4 1 "For behold, the day comes, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble; the day that comes shall burn them up, says the LORD of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. 2 But for you who fear my name the sun of righteousness shall rise, with healing in its wings. You shall go forth leaping like calves from the stall. 3 And you shall tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet, on the day when I act, says the LORD of hosts. 4 "Remember the law of my servant Moses, the statutes and ordinances that I commanded him at Horeb for all Israel. 5 "Behold, I will send you Eli'jah the prophet before the great and terrible day of the LORD comes. 6 And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the land with a curse."
SIRACH 48 10 you who are ready at the appointed time, it is written, to calm the wrath of God before it breaks out in fury, to turn the heart of the father to the son, and to restore the tribes of Jacob. 11 Blessed are those who saw you, and those who have been adorned in love; for we also shall surely live. 12 It was Elijah who was covered by the whirlwind, and Elisha was filled with his spirit; in all his days he did not tremble before any ruler, and no one brought him into subjection. 13 Nothing was too hard for him, and when he was dead his body prophesied. 14 As in his life he did wonders, so in death his deeds were marvelous. 15 For all this the people did not repent, and they did not forsake their sins, till they were carried away captive from their land and were scattered over all the earth; the people were left very few in number, but with rulers from the house of David.
ZACHARIAH S DOUBT EXPLAINED The promise of a son is tied to the restoration of the tribes of Jacob The ten tribes are lost. There is no genealogical heritage with which to identify them. Therefore, it is impossible to identify these tribes. It follows that his wife will not bear him a child. He may then thought about Zechariah 3: Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him. What happens when we set facts before belief in God? We become wise according to the ways of the Lord but the foolishness of God is great than the wisdom of this world.
ST. GABRIEL AGAIN 19 And the angel answered him, "I am Gabriel, who stand in the presence of God; and I was sent to speak to you, and to bring you this good news. 20 And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things come to pass, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time."
ZACHARIAH WAS RENDERED DUMB SO THAT 1. He may believe: fact fighting fact 2. He is a priest of the Old Covenant. It is passing away and has been silenced. 3. The truth shall not come forth from the priesthood of the Temple but from one outside the lineage of Aaron: Jesus Christ.
22 And when he came out, he could not speak to them, and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple; and he made signs to them and remained dumb. 23 And when his time of service was ended, he went to his home. 24 After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she hid herself, saying, 25 "Thus the Lord has done to me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men."
LET S RECAP The Annunciation of the last of all prophets happens in the Temple Zachariah, though blameless, cannot accept the message for it seems outlandish: the Tribes are gone, how will God reunite the sons of Jacob? Gabriel gives him a physical sign to help him make that leap of faith. Elizabeth, on the other hand, is hidden and grows in holiness. Therefore, it is not always the one who is in the limelight that ends-up with the better place, but, often, the one who is hidden away.
FOR NEXT WEEK Read Luke 1:26-38 That is the Sixth month referring to? What does betrothed mean? Verse 28: What did the Angel say to Our Lady and what does it mean? Compare Mary s question in verse 34 to Zachariah s question in verse 18. How did Saint Gabriel know that Zachariah did not believe but Mary did? Verse 35: What did the Angel say and what does it mean? Verse 38: How is Mary s profession of faith different from ours?