What does it matter?

Luke 2:1-20

Tradition has us trained to think that Mary and Joseph traveled to Bethlehem while she is 9 months pregnant. But I tend to disagree with this notion. No midwife, then or today, would permit such a journey at that time in her pregnancy. So, I suggest an alternative theory.

I suggest that Mary and Joseph traveled from Nazareth to Bethlehem when she was 6 or 7 months pregnant in response to the census. Then, they stayed with family until the baby could be born. They enjoyed being with Joseph’s branch of the family, getting to know cousins and aunts and uncles. They connected with a local midwife who monitored the pregnancy.

We know from recent scholarship that the Greek word traditionally translated as “Inn” actually referred to the guest room, or the upper room. It’s the same word used for the place where the last supper was held, and where the disciples gathered after the crucifixion.

We also know now that there was often a place for the animals in many homes. Bringing them in at night kept them safe from harm and theft, and in the winter kept the family warm. Perhaps with many guests in town, the guest room was full of people gathered for meals.

When the time came for the birth, they would have wanted some privacy. So, the men moved the animals out, cleaned the stable area, and put fresh hay in the manger. The women added some blankets and pillows, some jars of fresh water, and sent for the midwife. The women sent Joseph to join the men elsewhere in the house, and invited him to be with Mary only after mother and baby were cleaned up and ready for company. 

The new little family has a few minutes alone to celebrate, but they are soon joined by other family members, wishing them well and praising God for a safe birth.

Even this time together is interrupted, however, because outside the town some shepherds are having an amazing experience of their own. A host of angels appears before them, and Angel Gabriel invites them to go and see the baby who was just born. Gabriel announces, “This baby is a savior and good news for all people.”

Matthew’s version of the Nativity of Jesus tells the story of some magi who visited the family, probably several months later. The Magi were wealthy people, well-connected to royalty back home in the East, perhaps Persia. The Magi, visiting a new king, welcoming him into the world of power and politics with royal-appropriate gifts. (We’ll talk more about that in a couple weeks.)

But in Luke, the point of the whole story, the earthly presence of the Son of God, is to make sure all are welcome in God’s presence. Beginning with shepherds, who were among the lowest people on the social listing of who’s who, Jesus frequently speaks with, eats meals with, and invites interactions with the poorest and lowliest and outcast people of that time and place.

So, the shepherds leave the fields and head to town to see this new baby. Apparently, they assume the sheep will be safe under the care of the angels while they are gone. … I notice with a chuckle that in this painting, one of the shepherds is a woman with a large basket of eggs – much more usable in the moment than gold, frankincense and myrrh. 

[The Adoration of the Shepherds. Bartolomé Esteban Murillo | Wikimedia Commons]

I usually end the Christmas Eve service with singing “Go tell it on the mountain” remembering what the shepherds did as they left Mary, Joseph, and the baby Jesus. They went through the town back to the fields, glorifying God and singing God’s praises.

Tonight, this week, this year, I hope you spend some time pondering:

What does it mean to you that Jesus Christ has been born,

that he is the Son of God,

and that he sent the Holy Spirit to us to continue his mission and ministry of welcoming all,

even those we think of as outcasts and not worthy of God’s love and mercy?

Amen

 

Jesus is God with us

Matthew 1:18-25

Today’s Gospel reading from Matthew picks up where Luke’s story leaves off in the telling of Mary’s pregnancy. Luke relates the appearance of Angel Gabriel and the annunciation to Mary that she will have a baby. Instead of sharing the news with her fiancé Joseph, she hurries to see Elizabeth and stays there 3 or 4 months until after John the Baptizer is born. By the time she returns home to Nazareth, she is noticeably pregnant.

Joseph hears about it, and is furious. How could she possibly be pregnant?! He talks with Mary – probably yells at her, expressing his frustration. Yet, he declines to make a big fuss over it. He promises to end the betrothal quietly and let her figure out what comes next for herself.

Angel Gabriel probably says, “Yikes! I’ve got to fix this! Mary and Joseph were chosen for this; they need to be together for this to work according to God’s plan.” So, Gabriel appears in Joseph’s dream and explains a bit of the plan to him. Mary has now had months to ponder the future with the baby, but it’s new news for Joseph. Now that he understands that this is God’s work, he’s all  for it.

I can imagine Mary and Joseph’s conversations as they grow closer over the next few months. How will they raise a child, God’s child, the son of God? Will they tell the neighbors? What will the child be like? Will he have special gifts, and how will they handle that?  

It may help them to consider the names they have been told. Gabriel told them both to call the baby Jesus – actually Yeshua or Joshua. The name means God saves. Ye or yah in Hebrew means God, shua means saves. Yeshua, God saves.

According to the internet, Yeshua/Joshua was the 6^th most common name for boys in Judea in Jesus’ time. Today, Joshua remains a very popular name in the US, frequently appearing in the top 10 of baby names.

It’s helpful to think about what God’s salvation means. In the ancient world, healing is not the absence of illness. Healing means a person or community is connected to God. We frequently hear Jesus say, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.” What he means is that the broken relationship between them and God has been healed.

So, Jesus’ role, his purpose in coming to earth as a human, is to help people get reconnected to God. Everything Jesus did focused on helping people find God in daily life and in their relationships with each other. When people respect each other, treat each other with kindness, the community is healed.

The angel also tells Joseph that Jesus will be known as Emmanuel – God with us, God with the people. Wherever Jesus went among the people, God was present with them. In every interaction, every healing, every parable, every conversation, God was present. God’s presence continues through the gift of the Holy Spirit, always present with us.

There are, of course, many ways of telling people that God is present with them. Feeding them, providing clothes and housing, visiting when they are ill or in prison. Beyond that, ensuring that all people have safe places to be, a warm welcome wherever they go, justice and mercy no matter who they are. Just like Jesus mentions in Matthew 25.

Some people just naturally share God’s presence with others. This week’s episode of “On the Road with Steve Hartman” featured two men. The first is Dr Michael Zakoffer, who sees patients whether they can pay him or not. It’s obvious that he cares about them, and their health and well-being.

Dr Zakoffer was joined by Secret Santa, a wealthy retired guy who has gone around the country every year handing out hundred-dollar bills to folks at Christmas time. In the video, we saw Secret Santa give gifts to people in the doctor’s office, at the grocery store, and at the food pantry.

The last gift we saw went to a fellow in an apartment building. He explained that he was going to give the hundred dollars to some people in the building, because they needed it more than he did.

You may not be able to give out hundreds of dollars to people at any time of the year. But you can offer a smile, a welcome, a tissue, or some food with those you encounter. You can bring Emmanuel, Jesus’ presence, wherever you go. Amen