All week I have tried to come to terms with the problem of history and text. I find very few scholars who can verify some of the facts as presented by Luke in the story. The census is a problem. Having Mary and Joseph have to make the trip to Bethlehem is a problem. If a trip had to be made the idea that a pregnant woman would be required to come is a problem. That is just the beginning of the various problems posed by the Christmas story.
I have determined that Luke is using some historical events transposed into the time of the birth of Jesus to convey to us the conditions in which this birth happened. That it didn't happen exactly as suggested does not deflect the general point that is being made; points that are being made.
Luke is telling us three things:
1. Jesus' birth was surrounded by chaos. There was much in those days that was not the way it was supposed to be.
2. Jesus' birth was punctuated by signs that were above and beyond what most people knew and the 'God element' of the story was the realization of the cosmos of the story; or the way it was supposed to be.
3. The implication of the story of Jesus' birth and the implication of Jesus' life and teaching is this; when cosmos confronts chaos, there is the potential of catharsis. The pointing to catharsis happened at the table and we celebrate communion every month, but, in a more dramatic way, it is evident in the prayer Jesus prayed when he said, "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven."
That part of the Lord's Prayer is not just a bit of Christian spirituality it is the imperative that calls us to our mission. Our job as Christians is to take things that are not as they should be and make them what they must become.
How do we do it? What does it mean?
It is central to our faith and our mission. If you have thoughts on this subject write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to have others see and respond to you as well click on the box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
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