"There was a priest, Zechariah ... and he had a wife ... and her name was Elizabeth." With these words Saint Luke begins his story about the birth of Jesus. In the first few verses of his writing we are introduced to this priest, told that he is a part of the Temple Corps, that he has a wife named Elizabeth, and that they are both well on in years.

The scene is set as the first rays of the morning sun begin to chase the shadows from the narrow streets and creep through the tiny windows of the buildings. The town begins to stir and stretch itself for the activity of the new day. We see Zechariah along with some fifty other priests making his way to the Temple in the early morning light. On this day Zechariah is especially honored. He has been singled out as the one who will enter the inner…