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I know it's just early November, but soon the sights and sounds of Christmas will become ubiquitous. And since I only have two slots in this space before Christmas this year, I'll use them to give my thoughts on the story itself, specifically how God provided for the little family. First, how God provided for Mary. Next time I'll discuss how God provided for Joseph. Also, homes at that time had normal living quarters and a guest room (mistranslated as an "inn"). When Mary and Joseph arrived to the overcrowded town, the guest room of this home was already occupied. The home would have had only one other area, an attached section in the back or ground floor for animals.
Let's start with Mary. She is exhausted physically and emotionally from traveling to a unfamiliar town, exhausted physically and emotionally from giving birth, exhausted by worry and stress. She is with Joseph, but lonely. She's living in crisis mode, in someone else's house, or at least the part of the house they share with the animals. She grabs the broom.
Being a guest is always hard: having to rely on the kindness of others but worrying you will irritate them. And not only that, staying as one in need makes it even more difficult as you may overstay their hospitality becoming a burden. Worse, they were not expecting or planning on your visit. So, she manages when able to keep what space they have clean and in order. Even sweeping tires her out, but at least it's something in her control.
She's also now worried about Joseph who is out taking care of his responsibilities for the census. And will he find work? Here she is at her most vulnerable needy moment, and she is alone, friendless, and without family support. They always know what to do. "Please help me," she mutters aloud as her thoughts begin to match her weariness. She puts away the broom and sits.
God why did you do this to us? Did I miss it? Was I wrong? Maybe God is not good to me. Have I been deemed a sinner--one who has been banished to Babylon? Exiled from my people to teach me a lesson or something? Why this? I'm so confused.
The baby is down again, back in the manger. Sleeps a lot. Mary naps also.
Suddenly, Joseph bursts in, dropping his tools and cloak on the floor. She wakes and jumps, sits up heart pounding. (He's not used to paying attention yet to how his actions affect those with whom he lives.) It gets worse. He's brought others! Who are these strange men? There are a couple older men and maybe their sons, one who appears around her age.
Her irritation is compounded by her embarrassment at not having time to make herself or the place presentable for guests. She glares at Joseph.
"I met these shepherds, Mary! They were looking for us! Well, I think for him." He gestures for the men to step over to the manger. Four dirty, smelly men with scraggly, weather-worn faces glance over at Mary apologetically, brush straw and dirt off their clothes onto the floor and sheepishly walk across the room.
"It's true!" one of the youths exclaims too loudly. "I told you!" They all start talking at once. The baby wakes.
"Men!" Mary grumbles.
She half listens as they report strange tales about angel choirs in the middle of the night and messages and fear and joy all at once.
Mary suddenly perks up. "Wait. Start at the beginning."
They look to one of them, a middle-aged man with a gruff voice, who tells the story. They were dozing on a quiet night. The sheep were mostly still and cooperative for a change. The stars were brilliant and countless when suddenly this angel appeared to them. "Frightened us out of minds," he said. "The angel said, 'Do not be afraid.'" He looks at the other men. "But we still were." The others nod vigorously. "He told us to come look for you."
After the pause gets uncomfortable, the tall one with a deep voice speaks up. "He called the, the angel did I mean, he called your little one there 'Savior, Christ, and Lord.'"
"We've got to tell everybody!" says one of the youths. The other says. "Glory and praise to God!"
There is another pause as the four of them stand smiling and looking at one another and then they all start laughing, glancing at Mary and back at the now crying baby. "Well, I guess we should leave..." says the first in between chuckles. "I don't know of any message for you or anything, but... Um... sorry to bother you."
Giggling and patting each other on the back, they quickly exit heading back to their flocks.
Joseph says, "I... I think of all the puzzling moments we've had this year, that was one of the craziest. I don't know of any message we can take from that either."
"Oh, I do!" says Mary, her face alight with joy as she picks up her child. Joseph stops and turns to her.
"Do not be afraid," she says.
Luke 2:19: "But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart."