Christmas Chaos

Last night as I was sitting in the 10:30 pm Christmas service at my church (which was beautiful thanks to all the people who worked so hard to make it that way!) listening to the gospel for the second time, I came to a realization. I happen to have the beginning of the Luke 2 passage that is read at pretty much every church ever, because when I was in first grade at Lutheran school, it was the job of my class to do that part of the reading in our Christmas program. I've had it memorized ever since, which makes it pretty easy not to think about what's being said.

"In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 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, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. 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 for them in the inn." Luke 2:1-7

What is this really saying? The ruling emperor of the people who had conquered the Jews called for a census, and so everybody had to travel to their hometown to be registered. This was a bad enough reminder that the Hebrew people were being occupied and ruled by outsiders, but then imagine the travel and disruption as thousands of people traveled to their hometowns. Businesses would have to be closed, the roads would be clogged with people, and probably bandits hoping to earn a buck on weary travelers. All the businesses open along the way would be overwhelmed by people trying to buy food or stop for the night. And here's poor Mary, probably fourteen or fifteen years old and nine months pregnant, ready to explode was being dragged on foot by her reluctant fiance marrying her despite all the whispers behind his back. This is pretty much the most chaotic scene I can even imagine.

I won't wax too poetic, because you all know this story. This is the beauty of the Incarnation: a baby and savior appearing in the midst of all our crap and chaos. I've had my family at my house for a week, and although I love them, my life feels pretty disrupted, but you know what? This is where Jesus is. Christmastime often feels hectic and chaotic or maybe just lonely and depressed. I just want you to take a second and bask in all of the craziness and exhaustion and fights and feuds and messes and grief for people not celebrating with you this year--and then think of Mary screaming in the night as she births her first extremely unexpected child, and all of the blood and guts and political chaos and family drama that Jesus was born into, and know that whatever battle you are fighting, and whatever sadness is overwhelming you, and whatever fears, frustrations, or pain is consuming you right now, Christ is with you. Christ came into the crap of his time, and Christ comes today and every day into all your crap, in order to be a savior, in order to reconcile, in order to heal, in order to transform.

Merry Christmas, friends! Remember he came for YOU!