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, manageable stream of emotional joy as we celebrate with family and friends. But that’s not always the reality. For the past four decades I have pastored people through the holiday seasons, and every year, I am reminded of this reality. This year I have two friends and congregation members who tragically lost their adult children, and another who lost her husband. Just this month, I lost another friend and father of four to suicide.
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, or some combination? Life does not consistently deliver good news.
Mary’s story is not an easy one. “Hey Joseph. Guess what? I have good news. I’m pregnant. I had a surprising visit from an angel and the Holy Spirit! Isn’t that wonderful?” Joseph doesn’t buy it. 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 angelic 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 would be difficult for Mary, Joseph, and their new baby boy, Jesus.
What’s fascinating is that Mary found within herself a second response within herself despite her initial emotional response of confusion and turmoil. 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.” She consents to partner with God in extraordinary uncertainty. It is her radical acceptance of and existence within 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, a 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 story is about seeing God or your Higher Power at work in the darkest 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 the Beatles’ song “Blackbird,” which reflects on the long, arduous struggle of the civil rights movement in America. Maybe it’s 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 Christmas/Hanukkah season!
Shalom
©realfredherron, 2024
