This piece was written for the initiative 'The Journey of Encounter' which provides daily scripture reflections written by young adults across the world. You can find out more about about their mission and subscribe over at journeyofencounter.ca
Matthew 1: 18-24
The birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfil what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: “Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Immanuel,” which means, “God is with us.” When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took Mary as his wife.
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Variations on the phrase ‘Do not be afraid’ are scattered throughout the Bible, and the story of the birth of Jesus is no exception. When the Angel Gabriel appears to Mary, he reassures her, saying “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God” (Luke 1:30). The shepherds are likewise told by an angel, “Do not be afraid, for I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.” (Luke 2:10). The “Do not be afraid” that appears in this passage, the words of the Angel in Joseph’s dream, is perhaps not the first example that springs to mind, but is nevertheless of great importance. Joseph finds himself in a difficult position, but the Angel asks him to act courageously and to take Mary as his wife, despite the societal taboos surrounding Mary’s unexpected pregnancy.
Looking back over the past year, I can safely say that it was filled with a fair share of anxiety, worries, and disappointments. Concerns about the health of family and friends, worries about taking University exams online, and an underlying level of stress about the uncertainty of the future. We must have all been told by a well-meaning friend not to worry, because there is nothing we can do and well, “I’m sure it will all be fine in the end.” Reading the Gospel accounts of Jesus’ birth reveals the fears and worries of real people who likewise suddenly found themselves faced with enormous tasks in improbable situations. But these accounts also reveal to us how they followed the words of the Angels; how they were not afraid, and simply put aside their own concerns to say yes to what God was asking them to do.
I often feel that Christmas is over-sentimentalised, sometimes for the sake of simplifying a school nativity play, but more often for the commercial purpose of creating tear-jerking adverts. It’s easy to forget the reality of the situation; hope was born, but it was born in a lowly stable, in the midst of scandal, social stigma, and real fear. The Nativity is not some sort of romanticised fairy-tale Christians like to tell every year to cheer ourselves up on a cold winter’s day. It isn’t about sticking on a plaster, putting on a brave face and saying all will be well. It’s about realising that it was into our very own broken and troubled world which Jesus was born and that it was precisely this world which he came to redeem.
Today marks one week until Christmas Day. Let us continue to prepare the way for the birth of Jesus. Let us pray that we will not be weighed down by our earthly burdens and that we will be freed from our anxieties. Let us pray that when next Friday comes around, we are not afraid, but rather that our hearts are open to receive the hope, joy, and love which lie at the core of the Christmas story; in the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.