On Talking Back To Angels...

It is the considered opinion of this author that talking back to angels is not advisable. If circumstances require that you do so, however, for heaven's sake don't argue with answers to your prayer!

Today's scripture readings from the Book of Common Prayer include Luke 1:1-25, where we read about a man who got both these points wrong.

In this passage we read of how the angel Gabriel visited a priest named Zechariah to announce the good news that his aged wife would have a son — John the Baptist. Zechariah's reaction was one of doubt, however. "How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years."

In response, the angel Gabriel gave Zechariah a tongue-lashing. That is to say, Gabriel lashed Zechariah's tongue safely down in his mouth, so as to prevent further insulting words from spilling out. "I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their proper time."

At about this point in the reading, I came to the sure conclusion that this blessing from God — a visitation by an angel, no less! — was a blessing for Elizabeth more so than for her husband. Zechariah did not deserve beneficence on this scale! Wise people don't look a gift horse in the mouth but this old man didn't know better than to second-guess a gift-angel.

"It must have been Elizabeth," I thought. "Elizabeth is the one being honored here. Zechariah is being blessed only because, as her husband, he is fortunate enough to come along for the ride." I was about to lodge this thought in the margin of my Bible when my eyes drifted upwards to the top of the page so as to confirm whether I was on the right track.

I was not.

This miraculous and marvelous angelic visitation began as follows... When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. But the angel said to him: "Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John."

Your prayer, Zechariah?? And when an angelic courier brought you a big Yes answer from God, you doubted him?? Zechariah, Zechariah... fool of a man. If you didn't think it were possible, why were you still praying for it?

The scripture reading ends with Elizabeth's words, which she uttered after discovering that she was with child. “How kind the Lord is!” she exclaimed. “He has taken away my disgrace of having no children.” Zechariah is lucky God didn't give Elizabeth a package deal and remove her disgrace of a husband as well for no extra charge. But... God had plans for only one virgin birth, so I suppose God found it expedient to allow Zechariah to make it home in one piece. I cannot resist noting that Zechariah got lucky in more ways than one.

I am, of course, having overmuch fun at Zechariah's expense, and the man's dignity deserves rehabilitation. Let it not be missed, therefore, that verse 6 indicates that both Zechariah and Elizabeth "were upright in the sight of God, observing all the Lord's commandments and regulations blamelessly." If my long-term memory had served me better, I might have been kinder to our friend Zack.

But even so, there is a lesson here. A question. When we ask God for miracles, do we believe he is capable of delivering? Shame on us if we do not, for as Gabriel explained in his next visit to the virgin Mary, "all things are possible with God."