Zechariah’s problem

Some preachers have a nightmare of being in front of a congregation and realizing that one’s sermon notes are missing. In my days as a preacher, I sometimes dreamed that I was late for the service and wouldn’t get there on time, or that I was still in my pajamas or wearing a Cubs T-shirt. I once dreamed that I’d slept through the alarm and heard the organ playing the processional hymn. I suppose I should submit all this stuff to analysis. No wonder one of my favorite Bible stories is about a clergyman realizing that he cannot speak.

Luke begins the Christmas story with Elizabeth and Zechariah, a childless couple who live in the hill country of Judah. Zechariah is a priest, and at one point he’s selected to perform a high holy act—he enters the inner sanctuary alone, lights incense at the altar, and emerges to bless the congregation. But while he’s in the sanctuary an angel appears and tells him that Elizabeth will have a son. The angel instructs him to name the baby John and says that John will prepare the way for God’s own son.

Zechariah is scared and skeptical and says so. The angel strikes him dumb. (I’ve always liked the idea that God tells a religious professional to stop talking.) When the baby is born, Zechariah asks for a tablet and writes, “His name is John.” With that his voice returns, and he says, “Blessed be the God of Israel . . . he has raised up a mighty savior for us.”