Today’s author is Prince of Peace member, Carol Swanson.
The birth story of Jesus that Luke writes is so full of joy and peace, hope and love! It is the “overture” of the whole gospel. In this time of Christmas 2024, take time to read and ponder the opening two chapters of Luke. But first, I’ll share a few of my own thoughts about it.
The ancient world had birth stories for their kings and heroes which celebrated them as sons of gods or goddesses. Julius Caesar and Caesar Augustus claimed descent from the goddess Venus, daughter of Jupiter. So, Matthew and Luke created their own birth stories to introduce the Good News of Jesus the risen Christ. They both knew Jesus was somehow God’s Son and, therefore, in their ancient cultural understanding, Joseph was not the biological father. They told two very different stories with only a few common elements, so for today, forget the very dark story that Matthew told, and instead, meditate on Luke’s gentle telling.
In this modern era, how can we think of the Sonship of Jesus? For two thousand years people have wondered how Jesus could be human and divine. It is a mystery. But since the discovery of X and Y chromosomes in 1905 and discoveries about DNA during our lifetime, I’d like to think that Joseph was the biological father of Jesus. The biology isn’t a stumbling block. Psalm 139 speaks of God’s omnipresence, even in the womb. We are reminded that God was there for Sarah, for Hannah, for Elizabeth, and now for Mary. Yet we believe this time it was different. Something more was happening. Something new.
The angel Gabriel came to tell Mary, who was engaged to Joseph, that she had found favor with God, and that she was to become pregnant with a son, Jesus. “He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will have no end.” Mary questioned, “How can this be since I am a virgin?”
The way I understand this scene, Mary was engaged and preparing for marriage. Perhaps the wedding date was very soon. When the angel told her this wonderous news, I don’t interpret her question as asking how she will become pregnant—she is soon to have a husband! I interpret her response as, “I am an ordinary young woman, and you are saying I am going to be the mother of this extraordinary child? How can this be?”
Gabriel explained, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called the Son of God.” He told her of Elizabeth, though said to be barren, was also pregnant. “For nothing is impossible for God.” Mary consented and then the angel disappeared.
(The Greek word for “overshadow” is also in Luke 9:34 at the transfiguration: “…a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were terrified as they entered the cloud. Then from the cloud came a voice that said, ‘This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!’”)
I imagine Mary went immediately to Joseph to tell him the good news. They needed to get married immediately, because they
were going to be parents of an extraordinary child! They did, and once pregnant, she went to visit Elizabeth. (My 21st century interpretation filling in the details.)
In the book Bright Evening Star, Mystery of the Incarnation, Madeleine L’Engle writes:
“Was there a moment, known only to God, when all the stars held their breath, when the galaxies paused in their dance for a fraction of a second, and the Word, who had called it all into being, went with all his love into the womb of a girl, and the universe started to breathe again, and the ancient harmonies resumed their song, and the angels clapped their hands for joy?
“Power. Greater power than we can imagine, abandoned, as the Word knew the powerlessness of the unborn child, still unformed, taking up almost no space in the great ocean of amniotic fluid, unseeing, unhearing, unknowing. Slowly growing, as any human embryo grows, arms and legs and a head, eyes, mouth, nose, slowly swimming into life until the ocean in the womb is no longer large enough, and it is time for birth.” (p 12, my bolding)
I remember a story Andrew Rogness told of a seminary student who asked Warren Quanbeck if Jesus was 100% human or only half human, and Quanbeck answered, Jesus is the only one who has been 100% human!
Jesus, 100% human, had this wonderous relationship, connection, with God. An intense brain connection with God? A deep spiritual connection? From the womb, Jesus was secure in God’s ever-present-never-ending love. A mystery… We sing, “Love is born! Come, share in the wonder.” From Jesus, we learn of God’s divine love and dream of a just world. From Jesus, we also learn how to be better human beings, how to love, in this relational world.
For it is a relational world. Madeleine L’Engle writes:
“A sky full of God’s children! Each galaxy, each star, each living creature, every particle and sub-atomic particle of creation, we are all children of the Maker. From a sub-atomic particle with a life span of a few seconds, to a galaxy with a life span of billions of years, to us human creatures somewhere in the middle in size and age, we are made in God’s image, male and female, and we are, as Christ promised us, God’s children by adoption and grace.” (p 10)
Maybe this is why Luke writes of angels and shepherds, Mary and Joseph and their new baby sharing space with the animals—the lovely connectedness of it all.
May we read and hear Luke’s Christmas story with new eyes and new ears. May we sing our Christmas hymns with new joy, love, peace, and hope.
Love has come—a light in the darkness! Love shines forth in the Bethlehem skies.
See, all heaven has come to proclaim it; Hear how their song of joy arises:
Love! Love! Born unto you, a Savior! Love! Love! Glory to God on high!
Love has come and never will leave us! Love is life everlasting and free.
Love is Jesus within and among us. Love is the peace our hearts are seeking.
Love! Love! Love is the gift of Christmas. Love! Love! Praise to you, God on high! (ELW #292, vs 1 & 3)