Advent Prayer Challenge Day 27 - December 23
Untraditional
Read Luke 1:57-66
Light four candles and say together
O Emmanuel,
king and lawgiver, desire of the nations,
Savior of all people,
come and set us free, Lord our God.
Reflection
Christmas traditions are what make Christmas, well, Christmas! How many of your plans for the next few days are driven by the sense that, if you don’t do them, it wouldn’t be Christmas? Sure, you’d still open presents on Christmas morning, but if you don’t watch a certain movie, or sing a certain song, would it really feel like Christmas? Even in a culture that typically eschews tradition in favour of new things, this is a time of year when people get reflective, embrace nostalgia, and get back to their favourite traditions.
So it’s interesting that the passage of Scripture we read this close to Christmas is about going against traditions. Elizabeth and Zechariah are ready to name their son eight days after he is born, which fits with their traditions. It’s what their parents and grandparents did, and it’s what their friends and neighbours did, too. But when Elizabeth says they want to name their son John, she is immediately rebuffed. She’s told by people in her community that she’s not allowed to name her son that because tradition says you have to pick a family name. They turn to Zechariah, probably presuming that he will do the conventional thing and pick a family name.
But this was a tumultuous time for Zechariah. He is surely filled with joy about his new son, but he is also living with the consequences of his unbelief—when he questioned the angel who told him the good news about his wife’s pregnancy—and couldn’t speak from then on. In this moment, Zechariah remembers what the angel told him, and he confirms Elizabeth’s word: his son would be named John.
Not only does this go against what was expected, but Zechariah’s confirmation also results in his speech returning. Tradition is broken, and it’s another sign that God is at work in this place.
God can do something new and unexpected, even in the midst of tradition and pain, and it can be powerful for you and the people around you. In Zechariah’s case, we hear how his neighbours reacted: “Fear came on all those who lived around them, and all these things were being talked about throughout the hill country of Judea.” God’s power was striking to the people in his community, and word travelled fast.
This Christmas, God can do something new for us, too. If you find yourself in Zechariah’s shoes, dealing with the difficulties of life and the expectations of others, God can unlock something inside you that will let you share your joy with others. As you enjoy your Christmas traditions, remember the time when the hill country of Judea was buzzing about traditions that were broken and the miraculous events that surpassed everyone’s expectations.
Reflect and Discuss
- What’s your favourite Christmas tradition?
- Has God ever surprised you? What happened?
- How would you react if you were in Elizabeth’s situation, with a crowd of people telling you that you were wrong?
Pray
Lord, reveal the new thing you are doing in our lives. Let us be enriched by our traditions but not limited by them.
Amen
Advent in Action
Make a paper chain at least 23 links long. On each one, write reflections from this Advent on them:
- Write the ways you've seen God reveal himself this Advent
- Write things you've learned this Advent
- Write hopes you have for the coming year
- Write recent moments when you've experienced joy, gratitude, peace, love, etc.
More information about our Advent Prayer Challenge can be found here.
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Advent Prayer Challenge Day 26 - December 22
There Can Be Miracles Read Luke 1:46-56 Light four candles and say together O Rex Gentium: O King of all the nations, the only joy of every human heart; O Keystone of the mighty...