Thursday, December 22, 2022
“Imperfectly Perfect”
When Mary and Joseph left Nazareth for Bethlehem over two thousand years ago, they were making a true faith journey. Mary was expecting a baby at any time. The trip would likely take about 4 or 5 days when they would arrive in Joseph’s hometown.
Would they make it to Bethlehem before the baby Jesus arrived? Where would they stay if they made it to Bethlehem before birth? Or, would they give birth somewhere along the road?
The Holy Family’s journey was far from easy. It had begun months before when the angels visited Mary and Joseph separately. Now, Mary and Joseph made their way to Bethlehem. They knew the great joy and responsibility of having a child was upon them in the very near future. They surely were both excited and nervous, just like all parents who are expecting a child.
However, Mary and Joseph had something extra. They had personally received God’s assurance that everything would be okay. Is that how they did it? Did the visit from the angel give them so much comfort and assurance that Mary and Joseph would never be worried about the birth or the child’s life? No, not likely.
We don’t have a personal angel visiting us and telling us what great joy is coming. However, like Mary and Joseph, our journey toward Christmas is nearing its conclusion. What will we discover when we arrive? Will God deliver us something of great joy and responsibility? Could God speak through other people in the form of prayers, support, gifts, smiles, and welcoming hugs? Or, when we arrive, will we find closed doors and no one to offer us assistance?
The Holiday Season isn’t perfect. Christmas is not without tears, scratches, and mended holes. Christmas doesn’t arrive without hiccups and complications. However, God does administer Christmas perfectly, according to His plan. Just as God used inconveniences, obstacles, and hurdles to bring the perfect Christ, God can and will use all of our imperfections, challenges, and even mistakes to a perfect conclusion for our good and His glory.
The next three days may be challenging, but we need not fear the ending: Christmas is coming! Emmanuel – God with Us – overcomes our darkness and the perfect Light of God shines eternally.
“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness—on them light has shined. For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah, 9:2, 6, NRSV)