Through the Eyes of Mary and Joseph

Sermon Title: Through the Eyes of Mary and Joseph

Good News Statement: God provides us with moments of reflection

Preached: Saturday, December 24th, 2022 at Dogwood Prairie UMC

Pastor Daniel G. Skelton, M.Div.

 

Scripture (NRSV): Luke 1:26-33

The Birth of Jesus Foretold

²⁶ In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, ²⁷ to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. ²⁸ And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” ²⁹ But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. ³⁰ The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. ³¹ And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. ³² He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. ³³ He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

 

Scripture (NRSV): Matthew 1:18-21

The Birth of Jesus the Messiah

¹⁸ Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be pregnant from the Holy Spirit. ¹⁹ Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to divorce her quietly. ²⁰ But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. ²¹ She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

 

Introduction:

It was Christmas 2020, a year that turned our lives upside down, generated chaos, brought fear into our heart, and challenged us to witness a Christmas that quite possibly was silent. As you were getting things ready—baking pies, making and decorating cookies, listening to the click of the computer mouse letting you know that your package has been ordered, hearing re-runs of Hallmark Christmas Specials air on television—you might have noticed some extra silence; you might have noticed that something was missing.

Just before 2020 came to a close, we had one more major holiday to navigate by means of social distancing. On a small hill, covered with trees, on a cold and snowy evening, sat an old church in Colona, IL. Usually filled on Christmas Eve with people longing to hold the light of Christ, anxiously awaiting his birth, people instead sat in their cars in the parking lot, tuned in to a specific radio station designated by the church. It was a drive-in Christmas Eve service, and I was asked to give the message in this silent church.

As I stood behind the podium, observing the empty pews, the lyrics to the closing hymn kept playing in my heart: “Silent night! Holy night! All is calm, all is bright…” Still Nacht (or Silent Night) was first sung on December 24, 1818, probably on a silent night; and for the first time in my life, I would sing those words not in the presence of others whose faces would be illumined by the light of Christ, but in the silence of that old church on a hill.

When the time came to sing Silent Night, I sang every word as if Jesus was with me. Although the space was silent, the night was filled with praise and joy for his arrival. Although the space was calm, it was filled with the energy of Christ’s light burning brightly. Although it was an unusual Christmas Eve, it was still a holy night. When I closed the hymnal, I realized that although traditions may change, the meaning for a silent night is still the same—peace of heart and holy mind. We all need to experience heavenly peace in our life no matter the situation.

 

Body: Light the Christ Candle

Every Christmas Eve, I find myself pondering the manger scene: observing the Magi, the Shepherds, Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus, the stable, the angel or star above the stable, and the animals. I look at how they are positioned, where the Magi and Shepherds are compared to where Mary and Joseph are. The clothing that drapes over the Magi and Shepherds, the bands of cloth used to swaddle Baby Jesus, the head-covering of Mary, the shepherd’s staff that Joseph holds tightly in his left hand, and the structure of the manger or feeding trough that holds the weight of the world. I wonder what the Magi and Shepherds were thinking and feeling as their normal life was redirected to this humble and lowly stable: were they amazed, in awe, embodying hope, peace, joy, and love, or were they perplexed like Mary, confused like Joseph, and still terrified by the angels? This year, as I was setting up my manger scene, I tried to envision that silent but not so silent night that Mary and Joseph came to endure over two-thousand years ago.

In the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, we encounter a glimpse of what Mary and Joseph may have been thinking after receiving the news that they are going to become the parents to the Son of God: the Messiah, the Prince of Peace, the Everlasting Father, the one who will come to “save the people from their sins.” Mary and Joseph, living their normal life, abiding by the book of the law, engaged but not married, have been called upon by God as favored and righteous people to do something extraordinary. Mary and Joseph have been called to become parents. But were they ready to become parents? My oldest brother and my sister will tell you that they weren’t ready to become parents. They had all these questions for my parents, but yet they have risen, combined, four wonderful (but sometimes ornery) children. Mary and Joseph had questions, but they were still able to raise the Son of God. Although, leading up to the birth of Jesus Christ was probably not silent, the day he entered this hurtful, dark, imperfect, and broken world, a silent peace fell upon the hearts of many, including Mary and Joseph and all the parents asking questions. Even in chaos, peace can be found.

Luke 1:28-31 state, “And he (Gabriel, the angel of the Lord) came to her (Mary) and said, ‘Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.’ But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.  And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus.’” Mary comes from the small town of Nazareth, a town of about 400 people. Mary is young, possibly a teenager. Mary is engaged to Joseph. Mary is a “normal” human-being living her life according to the law. From this text, we know Mary is favored, chosen, by God. We know that the Lord is with Mary. We know that Mary is perplexed by the confusing and startling news brought forth by this unknown angel figure. Mary is probably experiencing anxiety, fear, and shock, which is why she asks, “How can this be…?” and the angel says, “Do not be afraid.” We know that Mary is pregnant and the child is to be named Jesus.

These things or clues we can gather from Luke, but what was Mary feeling as she held Jesus for the first time? Was she still perplexed, terrified, and in shock? Or did she finally believe that the Lord was going to be with her and that everything was going to be okay? Was Mary ever given the chance to experience peace?

In 2012, Christian song writer and artist, Francesca Battistelli wrote a song titled “You’re Here” from the perspective of Mary. She wrote, “Hold on now, I gotta take a deep breath. I don’t know what to say when I look in your eyes. You made the world before I was born. Here I am holding you in my arms tonight. You’re here, I’m holding you so near. I’m staring into the face of my Savior, King, and Creator. You could have left us on our own, but you’re here. Don’t know how long I’m gonna have you for, but I’ll be watching when you change the world.”

Battistelli introduces us to an overjoyed, peaceful, and concerned Mary who realizes that she is holding the fate of the world in her arms. Mary pauses, takes a deep breath, acknowledges the uncertainty of the situation and decides to ignore the outside world and focus on the present moment as she holds Jesus near and as she stares into his eyes. Mary reminds us that in all circumstances of life there is a moment of peace by which allows us to focus on what truly matters, hold near those whom we love so dear, cherish the present moment because we really don’t know how long we have, and she helps us remember that Jesus is here. Christmas Eve shouldn’t be just another day; instead, it should be a day to pause, take a deep breath, to embody the peace of Christ, and live in the moment. Mary found peace in the chaos and uncertainty of being a new mother. If she can do that, then so can we on this Christmas Eve night.

Usually in the manger scene, Joseph is standing next to Mary. Matthew 1:18-21 states, “Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be pregnant from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to divorce her quietly. But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.’” Joseph, a carpenter (a tekton), possibly in his late twenties or early thirties, living in Bethlehem—meaning the “House of Bread”—is a righteous man. Joseph is engaged to Mary. Joseph, after receiving the news about Mary, seeks to divorce her secretly, quietly, without disgrace. But after being persuaded in a dream by an angel not to divorce Mary, Joseph takes Mary as his wife and raises the child named Jesus.

These things we know about Joseph, but what we don’t know is what Joseph was feeling or wanting to say in this situation. Was Joseph angry with Mary? Was Joseph paralyzed with fear? Was Joseph ready to become a father? Why doesn’t Joseph say much of anything? Is Joseph’s muteness similar to that of the muteness of Zechariah? Did Joseph ever fill adequate enough to be the earthly father of Jesus? If Joseph was feeling upset or angry or confused by this news and situation, we can only hope that some of those hurtful feelings gave way for peace to enter his heart as held Jesus for the first time.

In 2005, the Christian Group, MercyMe, released a song titled, “Joseph’s Lullaby.” This is what they wrote, “Go to sleep my Son. This manger for Your bed, You have a long road before You, Rest Your little head…. Go to sleep my Son, Go and chase Your dreams. This world can wait for one more moment. Go and sleep in peace. Go to sleep my Son. Baby, close Your eyes, Soon enough You’ll save the day. But for now, dear Child of mine, Oh, my Jesus, Sleep tight.” In this song, MercyMe introduces us to a frail Joseph, a tender-hearted righteous man, and a carpenter who is simply constructing the present moment. Similar to Mary, Joseph witnesses the power of the divine but at the same time the innocence of a humbled child that needs sleep to face tomorrow.

From these lyrics, MercyMe finds a Joseph that not many witness: they witness a Joseph who speaks and voices concern—in the dim light of the flickering lantern—for his son. They find a Joseph of peace. Joseph knows that life is not going to be easy for his son and that his son deserves to chase his dreams before the weight of the world bears down upon him and before his dreams give way to the dreams and prayers of the people he has been called to save. Joseph wants his son, Jesus, to sleep and experience a moment of peace—a peace he won’t find again until he ascends to be with his Heavenly Father. Joseph says, “Close your eyes. Soon enough you will save the day.”

Soon enough, our Lord and Savior will be found in a manger, wrapped in bands of cloth, resting before two worried parents, who don’t have the answers, who are on their own, and who must endure hardships and fear. But these parents also know that there is peace to be found in all circumstances of life. That once so not silent night becomes silent when we, too, take a step back, take a deep breath, close our eyes, and allow the peace of Christ to enter our life. Christmas Eve is not a day to label as chaotic and noisy. Rather it’s a day that we pray, “I need a silent night, a holy night, To hear an angel voice through the chaos and the noise. I need a midnight clear, a little peace right here, To end this crazy day with a silent night” (Amy Grant, 2008, “I Need A Silent Night). And this silent night begins when we allow the light of Christ to enter our heart.

 

Conclusion:

From behind that podium, of that old and empty church on a hill, the hymn Silent Night became the anthem of my heart: bringing calmness, brightness, streams of radiant glories, and redeeming grace to my life. During a time of chaos, uncertainty, despair, depression, and silence, God found a way to guide me to the manger scene, where Mary and Joseph found themselves, not in the presence of silence, but in the presence of holiness. I can only imagine what they were thinking as they, too, found themselves alone on Christmas Eve, absent of familiar Christmas traditions? But as I held the light of Christ in my hand, allowing the flicker of that candle to illumine my path, I realized that Mary and Joseph, with their own form of uncertainty, found peace, found rest, and found the assurance that no amount of darkness could put out the light of their son (John 1:5), who they held so near.

The time has come to accept the light of Christ and embrace peace. The announcement has been made, Mary gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth and laid him in a manger, and the heavenly host has sang “Glory to God in the highest heaven and on earth peace among those whom he favors” (Luke 2:14). The light of Christ—the light of peace and love—has entered our life so that we may have a life in Christ. “And the Word became flesh and lived among us…” (John 1:14).

The life which Jesus gives us starts now. And it starts by accepting that Jesus Christ is the true light, which enlightens everyone; that Jesus Christ is the true light that brings us out of darkness; that Jesus Christ is the true light that has come into this world, full of grace, full of love, and full of truth and hope, peace, and joy. Jesus Christ is the true light of peace found on a silent and holy night. Through the eyes of Mary and Joseph, we have seen peace. “Close your eyes. Soon enough you will save the day.” Amen.

 

Sharing the Light of Christ:

At this time, we will share the light of Christ with our neighbors by passing them the light of Christ. As you pass the light, say to your neighbor, “The Light of Christ shines for you.” As Adam Hamilton notes, “Jesus came to be the light for us that we, as his followers, might in turn be light for others.” May this light bring you hope, joy, love, and peace. May this light be all you need to embrace a silent and holy night.

 

Benediction:

            In just a few minutes or hours, you will gather together with family and friends, laughing and smiling and enjoying the Spirit of Christmas. After the festivities have concluded, place yourself in the manger scene next to Mary and Joseph as they hold their new born child, our Lord and Savior, for the first time. As you stand there set aside the chaos and the noise and embrace the peace of a silent and holy night. May God bless you, May the Light of Christ shine within you, and May the peace of the Holy Spirit fill your heart. Amen.

 

Merry Christmas!