One of my favorite books is the gospel of Luke. Though I have read Luke a few times over, I have yet to get an answer as to why John's father, Zechariah was struck dumb. Did not Mary asked the same thing when she was informed of her impending conception? Was it not natural then to ask God how can this be possible when one is old and that Elizabeth would be already past child bearing.
Yesterday was a long day for me. After YC was lunch with Tim. After lunch I had to run an errant. I had about 3 hours max as we had to fetch Ben back from the airport by 6 in the evening. It was good to get reunited as a family and after hearing Ben's discourse on his opinion on London, it was time for bed. Monday was just hours away.
Sleep did not come immediately. I felt a desire to read Luke. And so it was about Zachariah and Mary and the angel Gabriel again. It was late. The light was dim. And I was reading with one eye - result of shortsightedness.
As I read again chapter one, I was struck by the encounter Zachariah had in the temple with the angel. Here was Zachariah, selected by lot to represent the nation of Israel to present the sin offering to God. As he was performing the ceremony in the Holy Place, God spoke through the angel Gabriel.
God spoke not of the state of Israel, or of the more important things of life. In the midst of His holy place, He spoke to a man about a desire of his heart. He spoke on the lost hope of an old man. An old man who knew he will never be a father and that his time on earth could be ending soon.
Instead of being distracted by running the universe, or commanding angels, or judging nations, or many other tasks that is part of God, He was concern about the lost hope of a man that has dedicated his life for Him.
I was pleasantly surprised by the attention God gave to the "smaller" things of life. Indeed He cares and gives individual attention to us.
I was also pleasantly surprised that I may now understand why Zachariah was treated differently than Mary even though they both asked the same question.
Sleep did not come easy afterwards, but eventually I had my rest to meet the challenges of Monday.
....... to be continued
Yesterday was a long day for me. After YC was lunch with Tim. After lunch I had to run an errant. I had about 3 hours max as we had to fetch Ben back from the airport by 6 in the evening. It was good to get reunited as a family and after hearing Ben's discourse on his opinion on London, it was time for bed. Monday was just hours away.
Sleep did not come immediately. I felt a desire to read Luke. And so it was about Zachariah and Mary and the angel Gabriel again. It was late. The light was dim. And I was reading with one eye - result of shortsightedness.
As I read again chapter one, I was struck by the encounter Zachariah had in the temple with the angel. Here was Zachariah, selected by lot to represent the nation of Israel to present the sin offering to God. As he was performing the ceremony in the Holy Place, God spoke through the angel Gabriel.
God spoke not of the state of Israel, or of the more important things of life. In the midst of His holy place, He spoke to a man about a desire of his heart. He spoke on the lost hope of an old man. An old man who knew he will never be a father and that his time on earth could be ending soon.
Instead of being distracted by running the universe, or commanding angels, or judging nations, or many other tasks that is part of God, He was concern about the lost hope of a man that has dedicated his life for Him.
I was pleasantly surprised by the attention God gave to the "smaller" things of life. Indeed He cares and gives individual attention to us.
I was also pleasantly surprised that I may now understand why Zachariah was treated differently than Mary even though they both asked the same question.
Sleep did not come easy afterwards, but eventually I had my rest to meet the challenges of Monday.
....... to be continued
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