I offered to share at one of the Advent readings, and I probably should have paid more attention to the selection process, because if I had picked one, it would not have been a meditation on God’s love. Perhaps this seems strange as it must be the commonest component of Sunday school lessons. But it is precisely the depth and breadth of the topic which feels overwhelming to me. Where to start? However, as with many things, the hardest things are often the most rewarding. I am

Luke 1: 5-17 5 In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. 6 Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly. 7 But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old. 8 Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before Go