Sunday, December 25, 2011
Isaiah 9:1-6 Titus 2:11-14 Luke 2:1-14
Merry Christmas everybody!
Today we celebrate the coming of God as a human being. God became one of us in a planned, deliberate way. God chose the time and place of His birth and identified with the poor and the “have-nots.” As I was thinking about the first Christmas, it struck me that God also chose His mother. It is said that at the time of her pregnancy Mary was young, an early- to mid-teenager. God chose a teenager to be His mother! God’s ways are surely not our own! If I were to choose my mother, wouldn’t I choose a more mature woman who had experience with motherhood? Do we think that God “took a chance on a teenager?” When we think like that we short change teens. In reality, as awkward as they can be, teenagers are basically very resilient, creative, and generous. They are full of pep and energy and to them anything seems possible. Like the old saying: “Everything is possible. The impossible may take a little longer!”
In Mary’s first encounter with God’s messenger (angel), who announced to her that she would have a baby, she reacted like a typical teenager. “How can this be since I have had no relations with my fiancé?” The angel continued: “The Holy Spirit will overshadow you and you will conceive a son.” After thinking about it Mary said: “Whatever! Let it be done as you said!” Think about it. Only a teenager would be able to accept this “far out” scenario as possible. The gospel writings go on to say that Mary “kept this in her heart.” This is another teen trait. Did you ever ask your teenager: “How was school today?” And you received a one-word response: “Fine.” Getting information from a teenager is like digging for gold. If you get any, it is always a small amount at a time. For Mary, no matter what others may say about her, she has a great secret inside her and is secure in who she is. Any new mother’s dream is that her baby will be special. And Mary kept all this in her heart!
Then Joseph and Mary had to travel to Bethlehem to register for the Roman Census. At the time of this trip, Mary was due. Then came the moment of birthing. There was no place at the inn. Jesus was probably born in a cave where animals were kept. Mary accepted help from local midwives and they used an animal feeding trough with fresh hay as a crib for the newborn. (It’s easy to imagine that Mary would think that using a trough for a crib was a great idea.) The baby is born healthy and the parents and the helpers are happy and all smiles. Then a bunch of shepherds came in to see the newborn and to visit with the new parents. Those shepherds must have felt really welcomed by Mary who was probably their age. The shepherds probably didn’t have gifts but they had smiles and energy. And Mary must have just loved showing off her newborn baby boy!
Then the Gospel narratives tell us that the young family had to get out of the country because they were in danger. So they fled to Egypt to be safe, as long as her baby was thriving and safe. Mary took all this in stride. Joseph must have appreciated the fact that his young wife was able to adapt to a new country, making new friends out of strangers and showing off her baby as mothers do.
I love working with teenagers, probably because part of me never grew up and probably because I’m prejudiced in their favor. I believe in their overall strength and sense of adventure. I believe in their basic goodwill. And when I get to peek under their surface defenses, I usually find goodness and honesty … for sure, a not very experienced goodness, but goodness in the “raw” so to speak. And that is very exciting. It allows me to see “previews of coming attractions.”
In our hospital, a set of chimes rings over the intercom system whenever a baby is born. The chimes ring year round. Every new life is acknowledged and celebrated and eagerly received. We do our best to recognize new life around us. It serves to remind us of the life inside us that we already have and that probably needs to be “renewed.”
When we think about the “teenage phase” of life, we should think that it is a great way to prepare for adult life. It should not surprise us. God planned it this way.
Kenn Rancourt
Chaplain
