For Sunday, December 22, 2013 – Matthew 1:18-25
When we look back on the big stories of our lives, we can see that the disruptive and disturbing parts are quite often what make the stories memorable and even valuable to us. In the middle of living through the disruptions, however, we are less apt to appreciate their value. Why is this happening to me?! We imagine how pleasant life would be with no more disruption, but these are the parts of our life stories, in retrospect, that often mean the most.
My mom tells a story about her father, who died when she was 9 years old. When her father and his brother were children of 8 and 10, they were living with an older married sister because their parents had died. A family friend showed up one day in the first automobile they had ever seen and asked if they would like to go for a spin. Well, sure! That fun ride ended at an orphanage 250 miles away, where they were forced out of the car and left behind. Following some months of being at the mercy of the people there, they ran away and had a difficult yet providential journey on foot back to their home area, where they were at last taken in by a family who welcomed them as their own. No doubt about it, it is a big story, its value growing over the years. Mom says her dad, in retrospect, could enjoy pondering both the tribulation and the redemption, recalling what they experienced and learned on their journey and how they forgave their sister and the family friend who abandoned them. But in the actual living of the story, it was terrifying, no way around it.
Today’s scripture says, “Now the birth of Jesus took place in this way…,” and what follows is a remarkable tale of dire straits and close calls and amazing grace. In retrospect, it is a beautiful and moving story. In the middle of living it, however, I imagine it was something closer to terrifying. Think about it: After Joseph and Mary were engaged, but before they lived together, Mary was found to be with child, saying it was the work of the Holy Spirit. Lovely in retrospect — the mystical encounter, union with God, Mary kneeling in wonder and devotion in a soft beam of light. Living through that moment — terrifying! Might she be lying? Are she and Joseph just trying to save face? Is she sane? Then Joseph, scripture says, made plans to dismiss her quietly. In retrospect, surely he was a righteous man who did not want to expose Mary to public disgrace, a man of honor, doing the loving thing. But in that moment, you know he had to be experiencing a bit of denial and dismay. Why is this happening to us?!
The story says an angel appears to Joseph in a dream and says, “Do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife.” What I also hear is, “Do not be afraid, Joseph, of this whole crazy story!” And I hear the angel saying to us as well, “Don’t be ashamed of all the disruptions and disgraces of your own life. In retrospect, you’ll see—yours is becoming a remarkably beautiful story!”
