If you know of people who read the story of Jesus’ birth in Luke each Christmas eve, read this to them before they open the good book.
I want you to actually consider the story you hold so sacred; the story you think is so special; one you think should be revered and especially shouldn’t be looked at with a critical eye the way I am doing now. Consider what Yahweh put Mary through. He didn’t give her a choice if she wanted to become an unwed, pregnant woman in a time that if you were female and you were even suspected of having sex before marriage they would stone you on your father’s doorstep. It would be safe to say that no one believed she was carrying the son of god. No angels appeared to anyone else except Joseph to let them now she was carrying god’s only son. She was engaged to another man when she became ‘with child.’ He could have at least waited until they got married so everyone would think it was Joseph’s and she would not have to experience the judgment that she got from others.
Think of the time of it. A census was coming up 9 months after he immaculately conceived in her. She would make the long 90 mile journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem for a good, solid week nine months pregnant. And let us not forget that after all he has done to this woman psychologically, emotionally, socially, and physically, he has her give birth in a cave full of animals; a cave. Man, wasn’t he chivalrous. He could have at least provided her reasonable and comfortable accommodations for the birthing process. Was he going for street cred? Humble beginnings? If this god did exist this was a horrible thing he did to this woman who did not even have a say in the matter in the first place. You respect this story. You revere it. You hold it as sacred. . You believe it is true. And you read it every year and expect us to share in your feelings about it .
I’m not asking you to not read this story this year; far from it. All I’m asking is that as that last line is read “But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart." that you ponder what you have just read in yours.
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