Late Fall - Cycle C Revised Common Lectionary

Year C Late Fall Propers 24 through 29

In the final 6 weeks of this Lectionary Year C, a firm and hopeful tone soars in Jesus’ teachings in a rich symphony of themes. The background music of the Hebrew Scriptures holds the notes of the new covenant — a law written in our hearts rather than codified in legal structures — The Spirit poured out, a vision for the appointed time, God with us, a new heaven and a new earth, and a branch from the tree of David — the remnant gathered. We can believe that Jesus heard this cosmic music as he distilled his huge message to the disciples.

Proper 29 Luke 1: 68-79

A Notation for This Week’s Gospel

This Sunday we celebrate Christ the King. We also close the third year of the three-year lectionary cycle. Today Zechariah looks back to the future with his song of praise at the birth of his son, John, the prophet who will prepare the way of the Lord. We too look back to the future knowing that John had done his job, a mighty savior has been raised, and that next week we begin preparing our hearts to receive John’s message. Will we hear this voice now?

Lesson Plans for Adults

Theme: Light to those who sit in darkness.

Before: You may wish to read Luke 1:1-67 before class to see if there are additional details to the synopsis, below, that you want to share with the class. You will need copies of the Bible for the group.

Beginning: Tell the group that today is the last Sunday in the Church year. We complete the readings from Cycle C and next Sunday will begin Cycle A with the First Sunday in Advent. You may choose to give the group a quick summary of Luke 1 up to today's passage (Zechariah was a priest and it had been his turn to light the incense. An angel appeared to him to tell him that he and his wife, Elizabeth, were going to be parents and the child must be named John, not Zechariah, Jr., a stunning surprise to the elderly Zechariah whose wife was also well beyond child-bearing age. It was such a surprise that Zechariah was unable to believe it. The angel told him that since he could not believe, he would also be deprived of speech until what the angel had foretold would happen. A healthy baby boy was born, and at his circumcision, Zechariah wrote the name John on a tablet and immediately regained his speech. The passage we have today is his jubilant prayer of thanksgiving to God. The Scripture: Luke 1:68-79. It would be good to have one person read the entire passage. Invite the group to think of a person, possibly even themselves, who longed for a child and then, late in the child-bearing life cycle, a child was born. After a brief pause, ask another person to read the passage again.

Questions: Why was it important to Zechariah that the mighty savior who was to come was from the house of David? (The prophets had assured people that God would send the messiah and that he would be a descendant of David's.)

What did people believe the messiah would do? (Verses 71 and 72.)

And what would life be like for the people? (Verse 73b.)

What would John's commission be? (Verses 76-77.)

What would people expect because the messiah had come? (Verses 78-79.)

Option: Ask the group to pretend this event has just happened. An infant prophet, John, has been born, and his father, Zechariah, predicts what will happen. The task for the group is to draft a news story for the local paper or the local TV station. How would they convey the power and the energy of Zechariah's praise song in words more likely to be used in the 21st Century?

Getting Closure: Tell the group that although the passage we have today is grounded in a time zone, its message still awaits acceptance. Ask them to offer words to express things that would be different in our world if this message were accepted. (Other ways than violence would be used to settle differences, resources would be allocated so children did not go to bed hungry, etc.)

Closing Prayer: “Thank you, God, that you wait so patiently for us to hear your call. Amen.”