The narrative possibilities of today's text are almost endless. We must first of all come to terms with the fact that the first Lukan story in Cycle C begins in 1:39ff. This creates instant problems. In the first place, this means that Luke's preface (vv. 1-4) „ which sets forth the purpose for the entire Gospel and for the Book of Acts which follows „ is omitted from the lectionary cycle. Somewhere in the Luke year it is important that we deal with this preface. It might best be considered on Advent 1 when the Luke year begins.
