CHRISTMAS IN LENT

Perhaps you are like me. Often when I read the birth narrative of Luke I have the voice of the Peanuts character of Charles Schultz’s Christmas Story, Linus, in my head. Many of us grew up with the tradition of watching his TV special each Christmas. It is perhaps the gem of Luke’s early exotic stories in his Gospel. Yet it bears the earlier marks of detail. There is the call for the census in a specific year by a specific ruler. (I doubt Luke would realize the fodder this would provide for Biblical scholars). Then there is the journey, the city of David, no room, and the Inn and more. Beyond a good story, there is something more—the humility of the One who is omnipotent—although he was in the form of God did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself…so we read in Philippians.

Read through it and then I have one or two more thoughts to share.

2 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. ² This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. ³ And all went to be registered, each to his own town. ⁴ And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, ⁵ to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. ⁶ And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. ⁷ And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

⁸ And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. ⁹ And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear.¹⁰ And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. ¹¹ For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. ¹² And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” ¹³ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest,
    and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

¹⁵ When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” ¹⁶ And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. ¹⁷ And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. ¹⁸ And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. ¹⁹ But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. ²⁰ And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

²¹ And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

The details are amazing. It says in Acts 21:17 that Paul and his companions met with the brethren. I wonder if Luke was a moment when Luke was collecting details. Might he have spoken with Jesus’ family about his birth? Families love to pass along family stories. Might he have spoken with Mary? It is a bit intriguing to think about.

What I note however is who is speaking. Did you notice? Who does most of the talking of this story? It is the angel and the Shepherds. It is the angel who declares that a Savior—the Messiah—and Lord is born. It is announced. It is announced to…the shepherds. Here again we read not just a romantic story, we read about the heart of God…as Isaiah proclaimed, “Good News to the poor.” This is our God, a God who cares for all, a God who honors all, the lowliest by giving them the high call of receiving the dominical message and announcing it to the world.