The First Parts

And the angel answered and said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings. But behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time." Luke 1:19-20

My sense of humor is at times rather senseless, and people have shown me that now and then. At those times, I wished after the fact to be rendered mute. Zacharias had that wish fulfilled, though he may not have been wishing for it at the time. At a minimum, he got nine months of mute silence for saying the wrong thing to the angel. Zach may have noted that bit at the end, in their own time, which could cause a person of forced quietness some concern. How long is that, Gabriel? But he could not ask that question. Fortunately for Zach, the Lord had ended His drought of the word on Israel, and big things were happening quickly. We call these marvelous smaller stories the first parts of the Christmas story.

Grace and peace to you this Christmas season,

Bucky