Pope John Paul II used in a book and in many of his addresses the statement of Gabriel to Zechariah in 1.13, “Do not be afraid.” (Gabriel says this again to Mary in 1.30.) JP2 points out how God greets us with grace, “Do not fear.”
At this beginning of Luke’s narrative, the voice of God has been absent from Israel for 400 years. Ezekiel saw the Spirit of God leave the temple and head off to Babylon. Now Zechariah witnesses the return of God to Israel and to the temple in Zechariah, who “stand(s) in the presence of God” (1.19).
In this age between Christ’s ascension and his return in glory when he will judge the living and the dead, God meets and greets us with kindness. “Do not be afraid.” Even when Paul speaks truth and talks about the impending judgment of God in Acts 17, he still has greeted the Athenians positively.
Application? First, even though we are sinners before God, and need to confess sin privately and corporately, God greets us in grace and calls himself our Father. Zechariah was there to burn incense and pray for Israel, and on the day of atonement, the high priest would sprinkle blood on the mercy seat to attempt to atone for Israel’s sins. The issue of sin and its penalty are still there, and yet, God meets Zechariah, Israel, us, and others yet to know him in kindness. The manner in which we address others can have this stance of kind grace.
Second app: Our understanding of our standing before God. He has reached out to us because he loves us. Instead of greeting us with a sledgehammer, he addresses us in the archangel, in Christ, in the apostolic witness – ‘do not be afraid.’ An invitation to enter a kingdom and have rest. An offer to return to a relationship with the Creator, and to know that Creator more fully without end.
