While some close to me are enthusiastic players, I've never been much for playing the lottery. Statistically, I look at the odds and find them just too steep for me when I have absolutely no skill invested in the game. "Scratchers" or "Quick Picks" are so unappealing to me, I can't remember ever even purchasing one. On the very rare occasions I have played the lottery, I've always chosen to pick my own numbers. Somehow it seems to me a bit more sporting than just random luck of the draw.
As the world turns attention toward the birth of Christ, there is a "young" family whom will likely miss the attention of the Christmas Masses and the masses at Christmas. This family won't be available in inexpensive poured resin nativity sets either. Nor will they appear on the cover of discounted Christmas cards come the crush of December 26th clearance sales. Instead, this family will simply remain stationed on the first page of Luke's gospel within the confines of the first couple dozen verses.
Six months prior to the miraculous conception of Jesus Christ in the womb of the Virgin Mary, Elizabeth, a relative of Mary's, was found to be miraculously with child by her husband Zechariah. This conception was miraculous because Elizabeth was barren and they were both well along in years.
News of this miraculous birth, the one that will receive no acclaim this Christmas season, was delivered when Zachariah's division was on Temple duty. Zechariah was serving as priest before the Lord, when his name came up in the lottery.
It was one of the priest's duties to keep the incense burning on the altar in front of the Most Holy Place -- the place where the presence of God remained. The priest would supply the altar with fresh incense before the morning sacrifice and again at the evening sacrifice (see Ex. 30:6-8 to read more about it). Quite infrequently would a priest have the privilege of bringing the incense and it would not be surprising if they never had this opportunity as this duty was assigned through the casting of lots (which was basically a "random" (though God seemed to intervene in the casting of lots on more than one occasion) sacred lottery).
As Zechariah brought the incense to the Most Holy Place, all the assembled worshippers were outside praying to the Lord. As they prayed, an angel of the Lord appeared to Zechariah, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was surprised and "gripped with fear" (Lk 1:12). The angel replied, "Don't 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. He will be a joy and delight to you and many will rejoice because of his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord... to make ready a people prepared for the Lord" (1:13-17).
John (you'll know him as John the Baptist), did become great in the sight of the Lord and was the "voice of one calling in the desert" (3:4) that prepared the way for the ministry of Jesus.
Though the Christmas season rightly brings the world's attention to the birth of Jesus, we must not forget the miracle of only a few months before. From the same bloodlines came the faithful acceptance of God's miraculous calling even through the "chance" of a sacred "lottery" pick. That was a winning pick that day and that lottery still pays off in heavenly dividends even to this day and into all eternity.
So, if at the office Christmas party you receive a "scratcher" or "quick pick" in your bonus check, don't be too quick to discard it. Who knows? There might be a divine assignment associated with it and you'll certainly want to be prepared for that which the Lord might have planned!
A Merry Christmas, indeed!
As the world turns attention toward the birth of Christ, there is a "young" family whom will likely miss the attention of the Christmas Masses and the masses at Christmas. This family won't be available in inexpensive poured resin nativity sets either. Nor will they appear on the cover of discounted Christmas cards come the crush of December 26th clearance sales. Instead, this family will simply remain stationed on the first page of Luke's gospel within the confines of the first couple dozen verses.
Six months prior to the miraculous conception of Jesus Christ in the womb of the Virgin Mary, Elizabeth, a relative of Mary's, was found to be miraculously with child by her husband Zechariah. This conception was miraculous because Elizabeth was barren and they were both well along in years.
News of this miraculous birth, the one that will receive no acclaim this Christmas season, was delivered when Zachariah's division was on Temple duty. Zechariah was serving as priest before the Lord, when his name came up in the lottery.
It was one of the priest's duties to keep the incense burning on the altar in front of the Most Holy Place -- the place where the presence of God remained. The priest would supply the altar with fresh incense before the morning sacrifice and again at the evening sacrifice (see Ex. 30:6-8 to read more about it). Quite infrequently would a priest have the privilege of bringing the incense and it would not be surprising if they never had this opportunity as this duty was assigned through the casting of lots (which was basically a "random" (though God seemed to intervene in the casting of lots on more than one occasion) sacred lottery).
As Zechariah brought the incense to the Most Holy Place, all the assembled worshippers were outside praying to the Lord. As they prayed, an angel of the Lord appeared to Zechariah, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was surprised and "gripped with fear" (Lk 1:12). The angel replied, "Don't 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. He will be a joy and delight to you and many will rejoice because of his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord... to make ready a people prepared for the Lord" (1:13-17).
John (you'll know him as John the Baptist), did become great in the sight of the Lord and was the "voice of one calling in the desert" (3:4) that prepared the way for the ministry of Jesus.
Though the Christmas season rightly brings the world's attention to the birth of Jesus, we must not forget the miracle of only a few months before. From the same bloodlines came the faithful acceptance of God's miraculous calling even through the "chance" of a sacred "lottery" pick. That was a winning pick that day and that lottery still pays off in heavenly dividends even to this day and into all eternity.
So, if at the office Christmas party you receive a "scratcher" or "quick pick" in your bonus check, don't be too quick to discard it. Who knows? There might be a divine assignment associated with it and you'll certainly want to be prepared for that which the Lord might have planned!
A Merry Christmas, indeed!
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