Christmas Eve December 24, 2005 Luke 2: 1-20
Grace be unto you and peace, from God our Father and from our Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Let us pray: Dear Heavenly Father, Creator of the universe and author of life on this planet we call earth, we gather in your presence this holy night to lift our hearts in praise and devotion to you for the birth of your Son, Jesus the Christ. Through the power of your Holy Spirit, grant us humble hearts, that we might come to see, cradled in this familiar story of Jesus’ birth, your gift of redeeming grace. Enable us to grow in faith, and to embrace others with the love you have shown us. This we ask, in Jesus name. Amen.
‘Twas through faith, Joseph took Mary to be his bride,
Following the direction, that God did provide,
Assuring him, that this child, which would soon be born,
Should not be a reason, for his betrothed, to scorn.
Thus, this humble carpenter, worked hard to provide,
A small home, in which, the two of them might reside,
In the small town of Nazareth, of Galilee,
While planning for fatherhood, with expectant glee.
But when the birth of Mary’s child, seemed close at hand,
Joseph received word, of the Emperor’s demand,
That all who lived, under Roman occupation,
Must personally enroll, for new taxation.
Joseph was also told, that he had to return,
To the town of his birth, which increased his concern,
Since the decree insisted, he must take his wife,
In spite of the hardship, or the resulting strife.
For the trip to Bethlehem – some seventy miles,
Through narrow mountain roads, and sandy, desert wilds,
Was a difficult trip, for anyone to take –
Even more so, for a pregnant woman, to make.
Though Mary was at full term, and soon to give birth,
To God’s promised child, who’d save his people on earth,
The decree had to be obeyed, there was no choice,
Despite the objections, to which Joseph gave voice.
Thus, we might speculate, that with love and with care,
Joseph packed some belongings, for Mary’s welfare,
To help her cope with the journey’s, many ordeals,
Including food provisions, for several meals.
And though the trip required, that they must travel light,
Joseph packed some blankets, to see them through the night,
And with wine and water, he strapped all to the side,
Of a donkey procured, on which Mary could ride.
Yet I can imagine, there would be one more thing,
That this man of faith, of necessity would bring,
To assist him in prayer, as the day turned to night,
And again, when he rose, to the morn’s dawning light.
It would be his prayer shawl, which he received with joy,
As a gift from his father, when he was a boy,
To assist him with the prayers, he was taught to say,
At the beginning and end, of every day.
For his prayer shawl, which heard, every plea he did enchant;
His prayer shawl, which heard, every sin he did recant,
Was assurance for Joseph, that God would be near,
To assist him in this journey, help ease his fear.
Yes, his prayer shawl would have been, a necessity,
Representing, for Joseph, continuity,
With the faith passed down, to each generation,
Of Israel’s hope in God’s promise, of salvation.
Thus, I can imagine, each morning he awoke,
Joseph put on his prayer shawl, when to God, he spoke,
Prayers of thanks for seeing Mary, through the cold night,
And for walking with them, on this arduous plight.
I can also imagine, that as evening drew near,
Joseph comforting Mary, dispelling her fear,
By holding her tightly, with his shawl o’er his head,
Inviting God’s Spirit, to watch over their bed.
Each morn and each night, Joseph repeated this scene,
Till one quiet dawn, Bethlehem’s gate could be seen,
Down in the valley, less than a half a day’s ride,
Where a warm room for Mary, he longed to provide.
It was then that Joseph, had determined to lead,
Mary and the donkey, with increased speed,
Down the last few miles, of that rugged mountain trail,
Sensing that Mary, would soon enter birth’s travail.
Yet in spite of his efforts, they arrived too late,
To rent a room with a bed, for his cherished mate,
For with haste, others traveled, without as much care,
As Joseph displayed, protecting Mary’s welfare.
Though the rooms had been let, earlier that day,
‘Twas suggested he could make, a bed out of hay,
In the quiet and peace, of an old cattle shed,
Where at least they would have, a dry roof o’er their head.
There, tenderly, Joseph helped Mary to the ground,
And quietly began, to move hay bales around,
Then taking their blankets, he made Mary a bed,
Fluffing some straw, to form a pillow for her head.
‘Twas then he bid Mary, to lie down, and take rest,
While he took care of the donkey, from its long quest,
‘Fore taking out his prayer shawl, to offer God praise,
In protecting them through, the past arduous days.
Extinguishing the candles, he then took his place,
Cuddled up beside Mary, in a tight embrace,
That the warmth of his body, could also be shared,
By his pregnant young bride, for whom he deeply cared.
As his eyes began to close, in much needed sleep,
He felt Mary stir, and softly begin to weep,
Which told him that his wife, would soon be giving birth,
To God’s promised child, who’d save his people on earth.
Thus Joseph arose, and lit a candle for light,
Determined to help Mary, throughout the long night,
Offering words of comfort, while holding her hand,
In assurance that her travail, she could withstand.
And when Mary said, that the child’s birth was now nigh,
It wasn’t long, until, they heard the newborn cry,
Of God’s child, whom Joseph, was first to behold,
As in his strong arms, he did, this infant enfold.
Soon the child began to shiver, from the night air,
And Joseph knew that he must, provide needed care,
For this child, whom he placed, next to Mary in bed,
As again, he put his prayer shawl, over his head.
Then he offered God thanksgiving, for this new life,
Praying that God’s Spirit, be with him and his wife,
That they might raise this child, to live in righteousness,
And if they did err, to be granted forgiveness.
Then again, Joseph rearranged, that cattle shed,
Taking manger and straw, to make another bed,
In which this tiny infant, could spend his first night,
While Mary rested in the glow, of candlelight.
Then imagine if you will – simply speculate –
That Joseph, under the situation’s mandate,
Took his prayer shawl, into his rough, carpenter hands,
And proceeded to tear it, into long, thin bands.
For there was little else, that Joseph could employ,
That could be used as a wrap, for this infant boy,
Still moist from birth, in the wee hours of the morn,
Than to place him in his prayer shawl, he had just torn.
Thus Joseph took that largest, of his prayer shawl’s scrap,
Laid it in the manger, as the child’s nightly wrap,
Then taking the small infant, from Mary’s caress,
Used his rest of his shawl, his bare body to dress.
Then he laid the child, in the warmth of the manger,
Safely out of the cold, night air’s freezing danger,
As he again took his place, beside his young bride,
Pledging his love, for her and God’s child, would abide.
Yet as Joseph fell asleep, on that cold, dark night,
We might wonder if he, even had the insight,
To understand the import, of what he had done,
When he had wrapped in his prayer shawl, God’s infant son.
For on the first day, of our Lord’s life here on earth,
In that candle lit stable, the night of his birth,
He was clad in the prayers, of each generation,
Who longed for the fulfillment, of God’s salvation.
Thus, right from the beginning, of his earthly life,
Joseph’s prayer shawl foreshadowed, the ensuing strife,
That this infant child, would later come to embrace,
In answer to their prayers, for God’s redeeming grace.
Yes, this child to whom Mary, gave birth that cold night,
And whom Joseph embraced, through God’s gifted insight,
Was God’s cherished answer, to each and every plea,
That the prayer shawl ever heard, throughout history.
For this child embodied, in the way he did live,
Through his teaching and healing, and coming to give,
His life, in atonement, on an old rough-hewn tree,
That God’s people of faith, might from sin, be set free.
And so, on this Christmas Eve, two-thousand-and-five,
Let us open our hearts, and in faith come to strive,
To embrace God’s Son, the source of our salvation,
And offer him our praise, in sincere oblation.
Then let us vow, as we go to bed each night,
And again in the morn, when darkness turns to light,
To join the custom that Joseph, learned as a boy,
In offering God our prayers, with expectant joy.
Amen.
