Isaiah 9:2-7, Luke 2:1-20
Merry Christmas!
I’ve often wondered what it might have sounded like, were I to have been able to eavesdrop on Mary and Joseph as they made their way from Nazareth to Bethlehem and then into Christmas morning. Obviously, their trip would not have been an easy one, Mary nearing the end of her pregnancy surely struggled with finding the least bit of comfort and I can’t imagine there not being at least a small amount of tension. Well, this is what I think their conversations might have sounded like, on their final day of travel, as their conversations were fit between long stretches of silence.
How are you doing Mary? Are you okay?
Yea! Is this trip supposed to take this long?
Did you get the directions, as I had told you, from my father? You know, he’s been there.
Are you sure we are going the right way?
Yes Mary, and I warned you that it would be a long trip; I am trying my best to make this journey as easy as possible for you. There were other routes, some shorter but much harder and you are not in any condition…
Silence as they on continued through the day. They ate their meals and traveled on and on and on. Then Mary again spoke.
I’m scared! This whole thing with being the mother of God’s Son, my being pregnant and all, I’m scared. What will we do?
Will we be good enough? Will we be good parents for God’s Son?
Yea, I’m scared too; I guess God would not have asked this of us if he didn’t think we were up to it.
Yea, I guess you’re right.
Silence for another stretch of time.
You shore you know the way to Bethlehem? It’s so long! I look around and we seem to be out in the middle of nowhere.
I’m scared? And yes, I know that God would not give us such a responsibility if he didn’t feel we could do it, but I’m scared also of what might be out there.
Animals, robbers, what if….?
No what if’s, we need to trust in God; I’m scared too, but you know I will do all that I can to protect you and the baby, and look, God is with us; God will protect us.
Yea, I guess you are right.
Again, a period of silence.
Mary again speaks.
Did you send ahead to your uncle about reserving a room for us?
Bethlehem will be crowded; I may be ready to deliver soon; I don’t want to deliver the Messiah out in the street or in a stable; God’s Son shouldn’t be brought into the world like that.
Don’t worry, I wrote ahead; my uncle is a good guy, I told him about the coming baby; he will get us a nice room.
I hope so.
He will.
Again silence. But Mary was still unsure.
What if there is just no place in Bethlehem to stay; it is a very small town?
We’ll be fine; there’s always the inn; God will provide.
Are we almost there?
Soon.
Again, the two were quiet. As the sun began to set this day, Joseph now is the one to speak.
There Mary! Look! There it is! There’s Bethlehem just coming into view! We’ll be there soon.
Thank God!
Silence
The town seems awful crowded; people in tents everywhere I don’t know? Look, are you sure your uncle has a room for us? I can’t have my baby out in the street.
Silence
His place is just down there; come on, we will soon find out.
With a face as long as can be Joseph leaves his uncles doorway.
Mary, I’m so sorry, my uncle didn’t get my letter; he doesn’t have any room, but we’ll try the inn.
Your sorry! Humm!
Joseph speaks with, pleads with the inn keeper, but to no avail; then the inn keeper calls to Joseph already walking away; he has an idea.
Mary, the inn is full too.
This is what I was afraid of!
But, the inn keeper is not uncaring; I explained your condition; he said that we can stay in the stable; I know it’s not what you wanted; it’s not what I wanted for you; but he said there is fresh clean straw there for us to make our bed and it will be mostly private. In the inn he was renting space to two families for a room; this will be space for us alone; I can only guess that this is what God wanted.
Joseph, I still love you; I know you are doing all you can; we had better get ourselves settled, I’m beginning to feel something different; Joseph, I’m scared! Maybe this will be the time.
Now I’m really, really, scared!
But they didn’t need to be afraid, not on the journey or even at the time of Jesus’ birth; God had a plan; God made everything work to his plan. His Son was not to be a pampered boy and later a man of wealth and power, but to be a man like most other men, with callouses on his hands and the physique of a man who knew work. His birth was to be no different. To others he would appear nothing special; he would be seen as just one more poor baby born to parents of limited means.
Mary, holding her new born son spoke.
Joseph, thank you!
Minutes later Mary again speaks.
I’m still scared, but I will trust God as you have told me. Joseph, How can I not? He gave me a good man to stand with me, to provide and protect us.
Visitor’s came and went through the night, not for their donkeys and livestock but to see the child that the angels had announced.
Mary, can you believe all this, I don’t mean believe, it’s just so overwhelming; you go to sleep; we should both get some sleep; I can’t imagine what God has planned for us tomorrow. I love you too, Mary.
Everything didn’t go as Mary and Joseph hoped; Mary and Joseph both had to struggle; they learned that their love was strong and that God had a plan and would not leave them without. We could learn something here. Merry Christmas!