Scripture: Luke 2:1-20
2 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 All went to their own towns to be registered. 4 Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. 5 He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no place in the guest room.
8 Now in that same region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for see, I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: 11 to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace among those whom he favors!”
15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph and the child lying in the manger. 17 When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them, 19 and Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told them.
Questions
- What do you think is the most memorable element of this story?
- Why is it important that Mary pondered the events of Jesus’ birth?
- What memories do you have of Christmas and how do they impact you?
Background
Related Scriptures: Isaiah 9:2-6; Luke 1:46-55; Titus 2:11-14
Jesus being laid in a manger, highlights that there was no place for him among human society.
John the Monk: Heaven and earth are united today, for Christ is born! Today God has come upon earth, and humankind gone up to heaven. Today, for the sake of humankind, the invisible one is seen in the flesh. Therefore let us glorify him and cry aloud: glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace bestowed by your coming, Savior: glory to you![1]
Reflection
Christmas is a time for making memories. We take photos and record videos of our celebrations, preserving the moments for years to come. The trouble is those aren’t real memories. Our society often talks of “making memories” but what we truly mean by that is “having experiences”. Making a memory involves reflection and setting that event into the story of our life. Memories are not simply the recollection of facts we have experienced; memories are the recollection of how we experienced life. Memories include our thoughts and feelings about the past. And our memories shape who we are in the present. This is why creating memories is important, the memories are not simply echoes of past activities, they are the grounding of our present selves. Our memories tell us who we have been and help us to understand who we are now. With that in mind reflect on these two questions, what are your favorite memories of Christmas? And are your memories of Christmas good?
As you think about those questions also consider Mary, who Luke says, “and Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart”. Mary becomes a model for us about how Christmas can transform us. She took the experience of the birth of her son and treasured it, reflected on it, and allowed it to craft her story. Luke indicates that Mary repeatedly thought about Jesus’ birth and how it impacted her thoughts and feelings. This is the premise behind the classic song “Mary Did You Know”. The hymn is an invitation to let us reflect as Mary did about the birth of Jesus, to understand her thoughts and feelings, as a way to help us understand how Christmas impacts us. Singing this song is a way of crafting memories, it is about helping us find purpose in Jesus. Luke invites us to see Jesus born in the manger because there was no room in human society. Jesus—celebrated by the shepherds those on the very edge of civilization. Jesus who the angels said brings peace on earth and good will to all. Jesus who Mary sang, “he has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty.” Remember memories are not simply about reconstructing events, they are also about reconstructing feelings, our own experiences. So, as you reflect on these events and the experiences of those who witnessed them, thing not simply about the events but how Mary Joseph, the Shepherds and even God would have felt as this story played out.
Reflecting on these elements of the Bible helps us in two ways. First it helps us understand what Christmas is supposed to mean for us. Active reflection helps us create memories that centered on the work of Jesus, that in turn work to help us find our place in this world, something that is at times difficult. The second reason that reflecting on Jesus’ birth is so important is that it helps us develop the skills of reflecting on our own lives and creating our own memories. We do not often consider that we have the power to reshape our memories. This does not mean that we change the events nor how they impacted us in the moments they happened, but it does mean that we can change how they impact us today. We can change the meaning of the memories for our present behavior. Meditating on the story of Jesus’ birth can help us understand where our past has fit into God’s desired outcome. Meditating on Christmas helps us ask both “why” and “how” questions. Why questions express our feelings about events, how questions help us take practical steps toward becoming who we want to be. Both are important for helping us understand our past and how it is shaping our present. Whether our stories have been joyous, disheartening it even traumatic they can each find purpose in the birth of Jesus. No matter where our stories have begun this kind of reflection helps us take control of our narratives and cultivate who we are moving forward. Christmas is indeed about making memories, nor simply having experiences. Let us take the time to ponder the birth of Jesus and what it means for our world, and how understanding his birth can help us make sense of the our own experiences.
[1] Arthur A. Just, ed., Luke, Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture 41.
Squinting in the Light 
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