Advent 4 Reflection based on Matthew 1:18-25
Many years ago, when I lived in LeClaire Iowa, I purchased the nativity set pictured here from a secondhand shop. My spouse and I love how quirky it is. It looks like it may have been hand-painted (or at least touched up by hand) because some of the eyes don’t stay in the lines. One of the camels has clearly had his head broken off and glued back on. Also, baby Jesus is huge in comparison to the other figures. This set was clearly well-loved by its original household, and my husband and I love it now, too.
One of the things that I enjoy about this set is that Joseph is clearly unique. Because Joseph is often depicted in nativity sets holding a staff, sometimes he isn’t distinct from the shepherds. In this set, Joseph is kneeling with his hand over his heart. He is clearly in awe of his newborn son.
This is the Joseph depicted in Advent 4’s gospel according to Matthew 1:18-25, even if the rest of the nativity is clearly from Luke and Matthew 2. In Matthew 1, Joseph is caught up in this transformative story, unsure of his role in it. His fiancé Mary is discovered to be pregnant out of wedlock. Joseph doesn’t want to make a scene, so he plans to divorce her quietly.
Then, an angel appears and tells Joseph that Mary’s child is from the Holy Spirit and to be named Jesus. This child will save us all from our sins. So, Joseph takes care of Mary and Jesus, knowing that Jesus will change the world.
With this version of the Christmas story in mind, I looked through all of my nativities to see if I had one that depicted the Christmas narrative according to Matthew chapter 1. I have this one that I commissioned from a woodworking friend. I intentionally asked for him to create pieces with darker skin to be more historically accurate. Not being a Christian himself, he didn’t have the baggage of traditional nativities. I love that he decided to make the shepherds both male and female. Even so, clearly this one depicts Luke’s narrative. There are sheep and shepherds, and Jesus is in a manger.
Even my simpler nativities have Jesus in a manger, no matter whether the scene is depicted in a barn, a cave, or a home. Some have a star (from Matthew 2 when the wise men arrive) instead of an angel, and yet they all have sheep. Almost every nativity I own either is distinctly from Luke or a mix of all stories.
And then I noticed this one on my bookshelf. This one is dear to me because it was a gift during my year of internship in North Carolina. I love how beautifully simple this is. It only shows Joseph, Mary, and Jesus in a quiet moment as a new family. There is so much love found here. And it creates the word, “Joy.” This is what the birth of Jesus is all about.
Certainly, there is a time and place to celebrate the spectacle of the angels appearing to the shepherds and the wise men following the star to arrive on Epiphany. There is time to remember how Jesus and his parents had to flee to Egypt when he was in danger. The whole Christmas story can be big and profound.
And yet it also can be so simple. Jesus came into the world to save it, and it all started with this quiet moment. Long before the magi arrived, and even before the shepherds arrived, Christmas began with Joseph and Mary marveling at how such a small, dependent child would end up changing the world and bringing so much joy.
God be with you this Advent and Christmas season.
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This week's Advent Reflection is written by Pastor Julie Monnard, Assistant to the Bishop in the Northern Illinois Synod.
