There is nothing quite like it, nothing really to compare it – with or to…
Christmas morning, that is.
It is peaceful, it is respectful, it is courteous, it is a morning like no other. There is a calm.
There is something serene about it and picturesque, as well. It is laid back and more than a little comfortable. It is almost like a dream deep from within a cozy bed. Our minds can take us there.
I would imagine the actual morning was probably quite the opposite… and quite chaotic.
A brand new “first time mother”…uncertain, scared, more than a little bit “intimidated, feeling inadequate” and in a strange and unknown territory…
Bethlehem of Judea which translated from the Hebrew meant “House of Bread.” A fertile region…the home of Jesse and David, buriel place for Rachel, Jesse, Asaph, Solomon, David and the great prophet Ezekiel…a historical city to be sure. A city with deep-deep roots, full of history and heritage…full of meaning for all the Hebrew peoples.
And here Mary was – along with Joseph and their newborn son, named Jesus…it was here that she had given birth…in the city of the late, great King – David.
You have to give Mary more than a little credit.
Many, many, many months ago an angel or a messenger had appeared to her. While women were supposed to be silent, Mary was courageous enough to talk back to even an angel.
She had her doubts about what was being said, and she voiced them. She was not afraid…to speak up.
It spoke volumes about this young girl…barely a woman.
She was courageous enough to accept an untimely pregnancy even though it could have resulted in an “honor killing.”
She accepted what was being presented to her. Mary said, “yes!” Was their hesitancy – probably. But she said yes!
And her reasoning seemingly was as old as the ground that she now sat on.
She both knew and believed that God was one day going to act. He was going to turn the world-right-side-up. He would be “true to his word”…true to “his promises.” Even the promises of old…
One day, the powerful would be brought down from their thrones. One day the blind will see. One day the poor and oppressed will be raised up. One day the hungry will be fed with good things. One day the naked will be clothed and the imprisoned will be visited. One day the rich and the overstuffed – will be sent empty away…
One day the Jewish people will be helped and God himself will “recall and remember” all those promises that he made with Abraham and his posterity forever.
One day.
And if Mary could do her part – she would do it. She would say, “yes!”
Small as it is – especially in the scheme of things…she will accept her role. She believes that with God all things ARE possible.
The Caesar’s of the world may be issuing their orders and there decrees, but God is keeping “his promises.” And the “promises of God” are way more important than all the “issues and decrees of all of the Caesar’s put together…
So this young girl, held her newborn baby tight, being amazed at the miracle God had given to her…delighting at the gift in her arms.
The scene is one of basic simplicity…and purity. There is nothing fancy here, nothing royal, nothing befitting a king. As a matter of fact it is all about a peasant couple taking shelter in a stable among livestock. It was there that she panted and groaned. It was there that she gave birth. Serene, kind of…
A small rough hewn trough that fed a donkey just hours before, now holds her son. It is filled with moldy, dusty hay and yet it receives her newborn baby.
It is all so beautiful…in the fragility of a tiny crying baby now at his mother’s breast, where livestock nervously move, and huff and puff, where a weary peasant leans up against the wall pondering how he will care for his family, the hope of the world comes…
How can this setting be so beautiful and so very crude at the same time? And we look in…We watch…we observe…
Very few people realize that hope “has been born.” The hope of the world has arrived and fewer and fewer people pay attention or notice or dwell on “the real meaning of this moment.”
This is “God’s gift to humanity,” a savior, a rescuer, the hope of the world…is born…And this…this IS Christmas. Amen.