Treasure

Mary copes admirably with the purpose God has for her life, and she seems to be taking it all in her stride, praising God and letting nothing faze her. For a young, first-time mother so much of what took place must have been daunting and frightening and there are hints in the details of her story that it wasn’t all smooth sailing. But Mary held fast to the reassurance given by the angel and stored away for herself memories of comfort and encouragement. The simplicity of Luke’s comment in verse 19 (below) hints at a woman building reserves of gratitude and appreciation.

Luke 2: 19

But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart.

Journey

For the wise men, paying homage to the baby Jesus was the conclusion of a lengthy journey, following a sign, on a path mapped out by faith. The obstacles they faced must have been taxing, and there must have been many moments when they considered giving up the idea and returning home, perhaps most of all when the baby wasn’t to be found at the palace. But they continued and the reward at their journey’s end was overwhelming joy. There’s much comfort and encouragement in their journey – for we too face obstacles and uncertainty on our path mapped out by faith; and following Jesus’ teaching does not lead us to the obvious places or to those that the world necessarily values. But when we continue, be assured we are journeying to overwhelming joy.

Matt 2: 9-10

They set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy.

Shine

From the very beginning of His life, Jesus welcomed the outsiders, and so the official birth announcement is made, not via royal proclamation or from the steps of the temple, but to shepherds, living in fields. Like all before them, their first reaction to meeting an angel of the Lord is great fear. Such a dazzling presence evoked terror and panic, until the angel’s words brought reassurance. Our lives can be beset with fears and uncertainties, and there are times when we might feel like the shepherds – overwhelmed, anxious, even terrified. We can take heart though from the change invoked by the angel, whose words moved them from terror to amazement to praise.

Luke 2: 8-9

In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.

Peace

Simeon, like Anna (see yesterday), is another character whose life is altered by the presence of the baby Jesus. For Simeon, holding Jesus is the fulfilment of God’s particular promise to him, and it creates in him a sense of peace. Simeon has allowed himself to be guided by the Holy Spirit and his journey has been completed. His praise to God is deeply content and calm, thanking God for what he has witnessed. God’s gift to us all through Jesus is ultimately that same sense of contentment. We too are given God’s salvation through the birth of Jesus; we too can live in peace.

Luke 2: 29-32

“Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace,
according to your word;
for my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
a light for revelation to the Gentiles
and for glory to your people Israel.”

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The prophet Anna provides a clear contrast to both the inn-keeper and King Herod. She was a widow, living in the temple where she worshipped and prayed, but she is drawn into the nativity story when she meets Jesus, and this encounter transforms her life. Once she had seen Jesus, she could speak of nothing else, and her worship from that day forward took the form of praising God and proclaiming Jesus as the redeemer of humankind. The mere presence of Jesus then, was too powerful, too compelling, to keep quiet about; it was news that had to be shared.

Luke 2: 38

At that moment she came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.

Priorities

King Herod is typically cast as the evil villain of the nativity and the death sentence he later issues is ruthless and brutal, but his first reaction – in common with many others in the nativity story – is fear. Upon hearing the news of the birth of Jesus, Herod fears losing everything he values – his status, power and authority. He wholeheartedly fixates on these worldly priorities and will stop at nothing to protect them. The inducements the world offers can be tantalising and compelling, and it is understandable to desire them and then to fear losing them, but they are also superficial and fickle, and pale into insignificance compared to the enduring abundance of the love of God.

Matt 2: 1-3a, 7-8

In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.” When King Herod heard this, he was frightened.

Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.”

Everyone

It is perhaps surprising to discover that the Innkeeper, a much loved character in nativity plays, does not actually appear in the bible. He is implied of course – at the very least someone had to tell Mary and Joseph that the inn was full – but he has no further part to play. He, and no doubt his family, were busy; caught up in the rush of doing their job, looking after their customers, and either making the most of, or struggling to cope with, this busy time for their business. And while he rushed around, fetching and carrying, the Messiah was born, just steps away if only he had known to look. He is an “everyone” character and if we are not careful, his story will be our story too; busy, rushing, missing the presence of the Messiah in our world.

Luke 2: 7

And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.