Christmas: A Time for Interruptions

Christmas Is All in the Heart, a 1990’s Steven Curtis Chapman song, is playing in the background as John and I decorate the tree.  After our masterpiece is finished, we turn off all the lights in the house, and John turns on the Christmas lights and proudly declares, “The 2024 Avant Christmas tree.”   This is our Christmas tradition which has been practiced for over forty years and signals the beginning of the season for us.

     Traditions give us security in changing times.  Change is hard for most of us.  Yet, the Christmas story is about change and the interrupting of traditions.

      In Luke 1:5-25 we find  Zechariah and Elizabeth are ingrained into Jewish tradition.  Zechariah was a priest and Elizabeth was a descendent of Aaron.  Position was theirs, a son was not.  Zechariah’s drawing the lot to serve in the temple most likely brought much joy and a sense of purpose in a community where Elizabeth’s barrenness was frowned upon.  Zechariah now had favor as he served in the temple.  In his faithful serving, his time of joy and purpose came a great interruption which would result in an answer to prayer and the greatest change in his life.

How often do I beg God for something and he answers me but it comes with change that is uncomfortable?  His answer to prayer is not always what we had planned.

     God graciously sends Gabriel to tell Zechariah, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son.”   Joy must have filled his heart when he heard this news.    Yet, as he heard the unfolding of God’s plan for his son, joy evaporated.  God has his plans and we have ours.  Zechariah was told his son would not be named after him, he would be called John.  Tradition broken.  He was told John would be a prophet, not a priest. Tradition broken.  Zechariah was very familiar with what the life of a prophet would bring:  persecution and rejection.  

       Zechariah’s questioning of God’s ability to answer this prayer may seem justified.  Yet, Zechariah knew Scriptures.  He knew the story of Sara’s barrenness and God’s promise to Abraham.  The older we are, the harder interruptions are.   We tend to like routine and traditions.   There are consequences to not accepting God’s interruptions in our lives.  Zechariah’s consequence was his inability to speak.  Silence for a priest was tortuous.  Silence for a first time father was unbearable.  

    As we approach Christmas, what are you asking God for?  Are you interceding for a prodigal, for your marriage, for your finances, for your health or the health of a loved one?  Do not fear!  God sees, hears, and knows your heart.  Yet, be ready for change.  Allow interruptions.  Rest in the truth that Zechariah declared, “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people and raised up a horn of salvation for us..”  (Luke 1:68-69)