These Christmas Carols, the readings may seem to re-tell a story of old. A story woven into the history of the Jews from centuries before. Linked through the passage of Isaiah, foretelling what may be to come. But oddly, given the focus upon the Jews, many others from different nations and cultures are interwoven into this story. It all seems to head towards leg Stable when all of the time the Stable leads us outwards.
The Couple
We have the couple Mary and Joseph, not from the main city of Jerusalem, but in the far-flung hillsides of Galilee. They were not even in the consideration at first, but God has a habit of choosing those who are not in the headlines, not prominent in the social circles, and giving them a starring role. The Roman rulers of the area are included as they orchestrate a Census, a mandate, a Government directive?, that all should travel to their parental home town: so that the couple travel to Bethlehem. Not to some grand venue, possibly even as we might imagine them with our Carols, but in a central place in the town.
Less than Three Households? #Covid
They are initially met by Shepherds, not possibly one of the three households you might have chosen to descend upon you at this time of year. These shepherds bring nothing of value except recognition that the parents are doing the right thing: they receive confirmation that through the birth of this child, something extra special is going to happen. It is so out of the ordinary, it could be quite upsetting. Perhaps the couple wanted normality to return, back to the good old times when they could clearly see what was to come, that they had control over the circumstances – but nothing was in their control it seemed. Mary & Joseph had to go with the flow, to trust God?They are also met by astrologers, those who study the science of stars and their movements, linking them with what might happen here on Earth. These foreign travellers arrive at this Stable but are soon to leave, for the Stable leads us outwards.
The welcomed foreigners?
These folk come from Persia: Syria, Iran and Iraq of today; culturally some distance from our twee Nativity scene. They bring gifts, ones that we dare to emphasise are financially costly, but no, they are full of meaning for a king, one to die. The parental couple saw something more than gifts but people who mattered, regardless of their origin and culture. These gifts signify worthship in their worship. We have emperors, rulers, wise learned folk coming to a wee child and their parents, in a town buried deep in the shadows of the principal city.
What of our twee Nativity?
What does this say to us? First of all, please forget the tweeness of the birth scene that Christmas Cards might paint us a picture, especially those that show a European scene – the angled roof stable came from southern Germany. This was basic, lowly, a real struggle. To travel such a distance to a bustling place crowded by all those forced to conduct a Census by the occupying forces would have brought much anxiety to say the least. Then to have the baby, already amidst scurrilous rumours of its origin, without the desired medical support from the family must have been traumatic. To then have visitors from afar, not even ones you knew, and for them to bring gifts that foretold tragic circumstances… Even these visitors who have travelled to the Stable, find that the Stable leads us outwards and leads them on new paths as well.
Where is hope here?
Hey this is a story of inclusivity: where God brings together people of many nations and differing cultures.
Where, through their help, the couple and Jesus will soon travel as refugees through foreign lands. Where the guiding light is not given on how much money you have, how many influential friends you might have on Facebook but upon our worthship. God chooses those from the backstreets to be a player in the kin_dom of God. Mary & Joseph were really nobodies but chosen by God; the Shepherds were the key workers of the land, so necessary that they were part of the angelic communication plan; the Magi, passing through perhaps on their trade route, following the star to where it lead – they weren’t Jews but were still so very much part of God’s plan.
So as Mary, Joseph, Jesus and the wee donkey left in one direction, the Magi in another, the shepherds back to their fields and community, and the onlookers, and not forgetting the community that had come from Nazareth – all took the story and told of what had happened to all that they met. They spoke not just of the facts, but of the significance, the relevance to them, that God was with them, directly – that this moment brought great change. . So will we follow the Christ-child, out of the stable?
God’s Cast
We are all part of God’s cast: we are all able to be a witness to this great amazing birth; and the ongoing celebration of God’s love to all. We may not be in Bethlehem today, nor smell of Sheep, but in our very being God is calling us to be part of this story, radiating outwards from here, speaking and showing of God’s love towards all. It needs no packing, just pure and simple, a message that we are all worthy. So as we hear the story of Christmas this year, in song, rhyme or word, put ourselves and others into that story, for we and they are also worth all of God’s love, something that we can truly share this Christmas and beyond. And beyond means also out of the church, to whomever we meet.
So what do we get with being so faithful to this Jesus?
Please don’t get me wrong, don’t misunderstand
Adapted from the Baptist Society ‘The Stable’
The offer he brings is so much more grand
Peace, yes, but also hope and a plan
For a future amazing, held in his hands
Life in its fullness he said he’d enable
If we follow the Christ-child, out of the stable…
In the midst of the mess, in a world so unstable
Will we follow Jesus and let him enable
And a friend who’ll be with us in all of life’s strife
To worship the King who was born in a stable…
It was very interesting