A Placed Story

Bethlehem is the place and the 1st century is the time.

Whew…Luke 1 is quite a trip! We just took 22 days to go through it. There are but two more days of Advent. The annual Jesus Daily journey takes us through all four gospels, but not usually at this pace. We’ll pick it up, of course. For now, let’s gently slide into the actual birth narrative for the next three days. We’ll continue to pair these gospel texts with a passage from the prophets.

Today we see the detail-specific work of Luke, whose goal, remember, is to write an “orderly account.” In but six verses, we read of five different historical people and five different cities or regions. Luke is placing the story of God’s entrance into the world.

Whatever we want to say about the theology or doctrine of Jesus Christ entering the world - and Luke does certainly care about that - it is crucial that it is not just an on-going story of God’s movement, but that it happens within the context of humanity. All these details - a mother and father, a baby, a census, cities, and much more - are such that God is acting within the activity of humans.

This is for you, for me, for all.

Luke 2:1-6

In those days Caesar Augustus declared that everyone throughout the empire should be enrolled in the tax lists. This first enrollment occurred when Quirinius governed Syria. Everyone went to their own cities to be enrolled. Since Joseph belonged to David’s house and family line, he went up from the city of Nazareth in Galilee to David’s city, called Bethlehem, in Judea. He went to be enrolled together with Mary, who was promised to him in marriage and who was pregnant. While they were there, the time came for Mary to have her baby.

Micah 5:2-3

As for you, Bethlehem of Ephrathah, though you are the least significant of Judah’s forces, one who is to be a ruler in Israel on my behalf will come out from you. His origin is from remote times, from ancient days. Therefore, he will give them up until the time when she who is in labor gives birth. The rest of his kin will return to the people of Israel.

Prayer

God,

You work through the details of our lives and the movements of history, weaving your grace into the ordinary and extraordinary alike. Do it today. Supposedly I’m going to fit in two meetings, some shopping, a haircut, an oil change, and a trip to the bank. HA! It makes me laugh even as I think of it.

So hit me with your spirit all day long in the ordinary things. As I talk with that barber, the teller, and sit with those I’m meeting, place me in those very contexts, bringing your heaven to earth through simple words and how I arrange my posture and perspective. Give me ears to listen and a heart to care.

By your Spirit & in Christ,
Amen.