”He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged 

and who was expecting a child.”

–Luke 2:5

Once during the week before Christmas, I stopped by my local Post Office.  I had a few packages to mail. Given the late date, I went inside fully expecting to wait for a while.  My timing, however, turned out to be good as there was only one person in line when I arrived. The design of that facility was such that there was a long counter next to the place where customers stood. Thus, while you waited for the next available clerk, you could also find forms for a change-of-address or special mailings. 

As I waited in the queue a woman came up behind me, having just picked up her mail from a box in the facility. Standing at the counter to my left, she began sorting through her bills and flyers. Soon, another woman came up and stood behind me in line. The first woman continued to sort, but to the new arrival she said “I’m in line.” The newcomer replied, “It sure doesn’t look that way!” 

It was an unusually warm day outside, but the temperature inside began to rise even higher.  “Look” said the first woman, “I’m going through my mail, but I’m still in line!” At that point, the clerk motioned for me to come forward and I was glad for the escape. As I handed over my packages, the two women behind me continued their argument until the second one said “Well, why don’t you just get your[self] up there then?” though in place of the word “self,” she used a more anatomically descriptive term.

Apparently after uttering those words, the woman stormed out, but since I had my back turned, I could not see that result. Yet what I did witness was the expression of the postal clerk, who without commenting on the conversation everyone had just heard, smiled and began to sing softly “It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas!”  

These weeks in December often include frayed nerves. Alongside finishing projects at work or school, there can be the shopping and wrapping, baking and traveling, too. Churches try to help us keep our focus on the important things with special concerts and pageants, candlelight services and caroling. Ironically, though, even such spiritually-significant moments add to our overbooked calendars since there are often office and school and neighborhood parties as well. As a pastor, I would empathize with the strain of all of those “extras” during the month and used to fantasize about helping my parishioners by declaring one December 1st: “As our gift to you, we’re going to cancel all church events until Christmas Eve.”  I was never brave enough to do that!

Lest you think that such stress is a modern or distinctly American phenomenon, I would point you back to the first Christmas. Mary and Joseph knew the truth about her miraculous pregnancy, but surely they endured the whispers of family and neighbors. The magi after finding the Christ child chose not to reveal the location to Herod and as a result that king ordered an act of infanticide. Both of those experiences would have been stressful. And then there was that other small detail Luke mentioned.

We focused last week on the gospel writer’s opening verses that tell of a decree by the Emperor for a census. In continuing his narrative Luke writes “All went to their own towns to be registered.  Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem…He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child.” Biblical scholars estimate that it took the couple about four days of eight hours traveling by foot and/or donkey to cover the 90 miles between those villages. Adding to the challenge, of course, was that Mary was near the end of her pregnancy when the couple set out. Luke doesn’t record any conversation between the couple, but it isn’t hard for me  to imagine some cross words as that journey unfolded. It makes any strain from our holiday travels seem mild.

I appreciate those details from the author and not only for the skillful way they help us imagine that ancient scene. Rather, his description of events surrounding the first Christmas also make clear that the celebration of his birth has never been stress-free. Despite the warm images of greeting cards and most songs of the season, the world into which Jesus was born was not peaceful or marked by endless joy. Jews lived under foreign occupation and poverty was widespread. If you had a disease people didn’t understand you were pushed aside and life expectancy was about 30-35 years. 

Yet it was into such an existence that God chose to send his son suggesting to me that the stress of this season can be some of the most natural preparation for celebrating his birth again. And perhaps that postal clerk was right in affirming how it can begin to look and feel like the first Christmas when we feel the strain everyday life again.  

Timeless Lord, the stresses of this world are real, but your love is greater. Help us to rely upon that gift in every moment, especially as we continue to prepare for your son’s birth. Amen.