Word to the Wise
Tuesday, December 18, 2007 - Tuesday of the Third Week of Advent
[Jeremiah and ]This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about....
Did you ever hear a child tell a story to an adult? It may very well begin, "OK. This is what happened...." Check out the above quotation! Then they can tell the most amazing story in a matter of fact way (or sometimes dramatically) with elements that seem improbable to the adult mind but which are very probable to the mind of the child (Who is right? Really?). The story of Jesus' birth in Matthew is told from Joseph's side. In Luke it is told from Mary's side! In Matthew, the patriarchal aspect of Jesus' genealogy is reinforced by a father named Joseph who is quite a dreamer (like Joseph in Genesis!). The natural curiosity of the early Christian community about the origins of Jesus gave "birth" to traditions from various sources. These were brought together in the gospels of Matthew and Luke, but not in a dry, "this happened and then this happened" fashion. Each of the "infancy narratives" is shaped in such a way that it contains the kernel of the rest of the gospel which was shaped earlier. It's a little like our Moms telling the story of our birth in the light of our subsequent accomplishments: "I just knew he was born to be a priest, etc. etc.") The story loses none of its charm despite its ancient roots. We sit down as a child does with the storyteller and listen to the familiar words - ready to correct if anything is left out! This can add a lot to our Advent and Christmas celebration if we are willing to adopt the heart and mind of a child. AMEN
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