Reflecting on the year I am aware of how short and fragile our time on earth is—Andy and I have both lost people we loved this year. Life is our biggest gift and should never be taken for granted. Our life should be cherished and made to count in whatever way we can do that.
I’ve always liked the analogy of life as a journey. The journey may be smooth or have rough spots, have ups and downs, sorrows and joys, but that is all part of our humanness.
In the last couple of days I have already read on social media the sentiment “I can’t wait for 2023 to be over”. That is really sad. It puts the focus on the downs and sorrows of the journey rather than remembering the many joys and blessings.
The short lectionary passage today is the story of the shepherds (Luke 2.15-21) who after a visitation from an angel went to find the new-born child. It is a story that gives little or no detail. The reader is not told whether they were male or female shepherds nor how many of them were present. All the reader is told is that these shepherds made a journey. I have no idea how long it took them or who cared for the sheep in their absence. I suspect it took hours, if not days, to get from the hills where the sheep were grazing to the city where Mary gave birth.
Another consideration for the visitation of the shepherds, especially the male ones, is that Mary after childbirth would be ritually unclean (Lev. 12). Mary would be subject to the usual purification regulations. These lasted for forty days during which Mary would need to remain mostly isolated and untouched, even if people visited and touched her bed, clothing or person they would become unclean for a period and have to perform ritual washings. It makes one wonder about the timing of the shepherds’ journey as visiting before Mary’s purification in temple would be quite a commitment. To go knowingly into the presence of an unclean woman would render them unclean.
I know I have said this before, but I think that the practicality of childbirth is a greatly neglected part of the Christmas story. It is important that the miracle of childbirth and all the pain, blood, water, time and messiness that entails it are not diminished. It is important that what is normally considered women’s experience is not sterilized, side-lined and kept hidden behind a closed stable door.
I also think it is important to highlight Mary’s response to the shepherd’s visit and their telling of “what had been told them about this child (17). Mary “treasured all these things in her heart” (18).
I love that idea, special moments, special joys being treasured in one’s heart. As I thought about it, I can’t number how many times Andy and I have thought about and reminisced about special times in our own lives. They are close to our hearts. These treasures are highlights as we journey through life.
So today, as the western world says, “Goodbye 2023”, I encourage all who read this to join me in thinking back to the joys and blessings of the year, to treasure the memories in our hearts.
Then tomorrow, welcome 2024 as a new friend, arms flung wide open in anticipation of embracing all the challenges and joys the new year will bring.
