Merry Christmas, friends!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wherever you are at this time, whatever you believe, the Intramuralist wishes you the great joy and peace that comes with this season. We are thankful for you!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Preparing for this day, I began to wonder. I wondered about each of those involved in the account of this historic event\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The shepherds\u2026<\/em> Out in their fields nearby \u2014 geesh \u2014 I can\u2019t imagine the shock of actually seeing, hearing, or interacting with an angel. But I love the angel\u2019s first words: \u201cDon\u2019t be afraid.\u201d I think of that now, as I humbly attempt to grow in my faith\u2026 no need to fear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Magi, wise men, or three kings\u2026<\/em> These men traveled most likely thousands of miles \u2014 from perhaps Persia (modern day Iran\/Iraq)<\/em> in the original star trek. What would motivate a man to travel so far? What were they expecting to find? I wonder about their walk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jesus\u2026<\/em> We celebrate the babe born in the manger, although few attest to December 25th being the actual day. What is attested to is the number of Old Testament prophecies fulfilled by Jesus \u2014 a number somewhere in the hundreds. That blows me away. Makes me wonder more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mary\u2026 <\/em>Ah, yes, Mary\u2026 Much about Mary makes me wonder\u2026 how she\u2019s thought to have only been a teen\u2026 how other organized religions, such as Islam, also acknowledge her as the mother of Jesus\u2026 how one would wrestle with both a virgin birth and then carrying the supposed savior of the world \u2014 at approximately only 15! Amazing\u2026 so much to dwell on here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And finally, Joseph\u2026<\/em> truth told, until recently I spent little time thinking of Joseph\u2019s role… LOL \u2014 Mary had most of the work to do. We also sing a bunch of songs about all of the above, but few to none center on the man considered the Earthly father of Jesus. A wise teacher in my life encouraged me to camp here a little more this year\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n Imagine\u2026 betrothed to the woman you love, and she then comes to you and says she\u2019s pregnant\u2026 and not by you. Not only does she tell you she\u2019s pregnant, but she shares with you this seemingly crazy claim that the father is the great big God of the universe. Pause with me for a moment\u2026 he had to be emotionally unhinged inside. Yes, he could have Mary stoned \u2014 and get revenge for what she did. He could also divorce her quietly, as he planned \u2014 apathetic to what just happened. And let\u2019s be honest with one another; in today\u2019s culture, when we feel wronged by another, extracting revenge is expected and apathy is understandable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But Joseph chose neither.<\/p>\n\n\n\n An angel appeared to him in a dream, also telling him not be afraid (love that!).<\/em> The angel confirmed the words of Mary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So Joseph chose to believe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And he chose to offer grace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Back to today\u2019s culture for a minute \u2014 especially on Christmas day \u2014 few things are more contagious than grace. When generous grace is extended in scenarios where something lesser would have been either expected or understandable, we are prompted to wonder… how beautiful, indeed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Merry Christmas, friends!<\/p>\n\n\n\n May your hearts be filled with wonder\u2026 all throughout the year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With great joy and respect\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n AR<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\nScripture tells us that Joseph struggled \u2014 shocking \u2014 with Mary\u2019s claim. Legally, since the pregnancy was of no physical result connected to him, he had the right to stone her. But he had no desire to publicly shame the woman he loved; he planned to divorce her quietly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n