The Faith of Christmas…
Most of the people involved in the Christmas story were puzzled when they heard what God was up to.
Mary was minding her own business as a small-town girl, getting ready for her wedding, and her life as a carpenter’s wife, when the angel Gabriel appeared to her. Gabriel tries to start the conversation gently: “Greetings, you who are highly graced! The Lord is with you!”
No matter how gently an angel begins a conversation with you, it is still a shock. Angels do not appear every day. Mary was agitated by Gabriel’s words and wondered what would come after a greeting like this. Her agitation must have increased by what followed: “You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to call his name Jesus.” If that wasn’t shocking enough, Gabriel filled in more of the story. This baby Mary would have would be the son of the Most High God, the Messiah, and would establish a Kingdom that will never end. Clear enough, Mary?
Mary splutters, “How? I’m still a virgin.” Gabriel responds, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.” Did Mary think, “Thanks. That really clears things up.”
After a few more words, Mary says, “I am the Lord’s servant. May it be to me as you have said.” To accept this mission, Mary had to have faith. There were unanswered questions about how to break the news to Joseph and her parents. Mary lived in Nazareth, and every good Jewish boy and girl knew the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. How would that work out? Faith meant saying “Yes” without all the answers.
Joseph was learning the ways of a carpenter, looking forward to his marriage with Mary. They had known each other since childhood, the way everyone knows everyone in a small town. Since the marriage arrangement had been finalized, there had been a few private moments: quiet walks to the town well, glances at synagogue, and conversations at the front door of Mary’s home.
Mary must have told Joseph about the pregnancy, about Gabriel appearing. When he heard her account, did he wonder about her sanity? Did he believe the worst about her? He must have doubted her account because he resolved to break the engagement quietly.
A dream changed his mind. It was a dream with an angel telling him not to be afraid, that Mary’s pregnancy was God’s work. Joseph was told the baby was a boy and he was to be named “Jesus” because he would save people from their sins.
When Joseph woke up from the dream, he must have wondered if an angel really spoke to him, or was it all in his head? He believed the dream and married Mary.
Joseph must have had questions. How, exactly, do you parent the Savior? Do you try to explain this to your friends? What will everyone say? If Joseph had any foresight, surely he must have realized for the rest of his life he would have to hear gossip that Jesus wasn’t really his boy, that he must be the dumbest man in Nazareth to go ahead and marry Mary. Faith means people will not understand your actions; they will question your judgment, and you will feel some pressure about doing God’s will.
It took faith for the shepherds to believe a baby born in a stable, laid in a manger, was the promised Messiah. It took faith for the wise men to believe a poor couple, displaced by government decree, could be the parents of the King. It took faith for Simeon and Anna to believe a baby, not that different than all the others at the Temple that day, could be the promised one of God.
Faith is part of the mystery of God. He allows us room to doubt and to believe our doubts. Faith is the courage to have questions, to know a tough road lies ahead, and to take that next step anyway.
This Christmas, is God asking you to take a next step of faith? To move forward, even though you have questions? To risk being misunderstood? To believe God can do things that you think are impossible? To make Christmas the most wonderful time of the year, take a step of faith. Take that step and see what God will do.