What can we learn from Zechariah and Elizabeth?

Although Bible commentators suggest that Luke was probably writing his gospel for a Gentile audience, the first chapter of the gospel links directly with the Hebrew Bible and prophecy. Zechariah and Elizabeth are a righteous couple from priestly lineage who represent the best of that tradition. There is a bit of humor in Zechariah’s encounter with the Angel Gabriel, his voice being silenced due to his doubt, and an older couple finding themselves pregnant, but the task they receive is serious--they will give birth to and nurture the new Elijah, forerunner of the Messiah.

Elizabeth and her husband represent several things that we should take seriously as we consider the role of senior adults in the church today.

First, they represent communal memory. They remind us from where we have come. Senior adults today provide link to the rich heritage of faith not only of the Hebrew tradition but now the 20 centuries of Christian faith and practice.

Second, they represent giftedness and a continuing relationship to the people of God. They are not sitting back and simply contemplating the past, they are active and involved. In today’s church, we usually have three groups of senior adults.

The Go-go’s who are still active and serving, often ministering to those their age and older.
The Slow-go’s who are more limited in their activity but still engaged in the life of the church.
The No-go’s whose bodies and/are minds limit their involvement, but they are still part of the family of faith.

All have something to offer.

Third, they represent hope. They believe that they will leave a legacy (but not expecting that a child will be part of that legacy!). I have found many senior adults in the church that assume this mantle.

As a member of Zechariah and Elizabeth’s generation, I can learn from them. They provide a good model for senior adults in the church. We are called not only to share from our experience, but to be raise up new leaders (but hopefully not to birth them). We must provide both the encouragement and space for new leaders to emerge and engage. While rooted in tradition and holding on to communal memory, we are part of bringing something new into being.

The challenge for senior adults is to know when to hold on and when to let go. This requires a sensitivity to the leadership of the Spirit and something of a sense of humor.

(This post originally appeared here on December 22, 2020)

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