Confused and Disturbed—A Christmas Story
Listen: “Blackbird” by The Beatles
Christmas is not always easy. Our societal expectation is that Christmas should bring a steady, easy stream of emotional joy as we celebrate with family and friends. But that’s not always the reality. I have a friend who lost both his wife and mother in the three months before Christmas and will be celebrating this Christmas with cherished memories while he grieves their absence. I have a Jewish friend who is celebrating Hanukkah during the Christmas season, but he recalls how Christmas historically (ironically) has accentuated anti-Semitic persecution. Another pastor friend was preparing for Christmas weekend services and the church water main broke due to the freezing temperatures, resulting in two to three inches of water throughout the building. Christmas is not always easy.
The first Christmas was not easy. Mary was a young teenager engaged to be married. According to the Christmas story in Luke’s gospel, Mary was a virgin who received a visitation from the angel Gabriel: “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you” (Luke 1:28). Mary’s response? “Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean.” Confused and disturbed. Have you ever felt that way? Maybe dazed and confused. How about that combination? Life does not always deliver good news.
Mary’s story is not an easy one. “Hey Joseph. Guess what? I have good news. I’m pregnant. The Holy Spirit did it! Isn’t that wonderful?” Joseph doesn’t agree. According to the Christmas story in Matthew’s gospel, Joseph decided to break off the engagement (Matthew 1:19). Joseph did not believe Mary’s story. It took another angel visitation in a dream to convince Joseph to continue with the engagement and marriage to Mary. The suspicion of illegitimacy surrounded the first Christmas story. Life was not going to be easy for Mary, Joseph, and their new baby boy, Jesus.
What’s fascinating is that Mary, despite her initial emotional response of confusion and turmoil, found within herself a second response. After some dialogue with Gabriel, Mary responded: “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” This is Mary’s “YES.” Her consent to partner with God in awkward uncertainty. Her radical acceptance of what is. Mary is dealing with life on life’s terms. Radical acceptance combined with faith, hope, and love.
How does the story of a pregnant teenage mom in the remote town of Nazareth surrounded by the suspicion of illegitimacy rise from the historical ash heap to inspire the world? Maybe there’s a pattern here for all to hear. Victor Frankl, Jewish survivor of a Nazi concentration camp, says: “Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.”
Perhaps this is a story of how to see God or your Higher Power at work in the darkest of circumstances. Christmas. Hanukkah. Jesus. A light in the darkness. A song which pierces the night sky. Angels singing “Glory to God” in the dark black night.
I was reminded of a song from the Beatles who were reflecting on the long, arduous struggle of the civil rights movement in America. The song is entitled “Blackbird.” Maybe its more of a Christmas song than we realize.
Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise
Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these sunken eyes and learn to see
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to be free
Blackbird fly, blackbird fly
Into the light of a dark black night
And then there’s that other Beatles song about a mother.
When I find myself in times of trouble, Mother Mary comes to me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be
And in my hour of darkness she is standing right in front of me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be
And when the broken hearted people living in the world agree
There will be an answer, let it be
For though they may be parted, there is still a chance that they will see
There will be an answer, let it be
And when the night is cloudy there is still a light that shines on me
Shinin’ until tomorrow, let it be
I wake up to the sound of music, Mother Mary comes to me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be
May you have a blessed Hanukkah/Christmas season!
Shalom
©realfredherron, 2022
