Do you ever think about the difficulties faced by those involved in the first Christmas?
The poor magi. They got stopped at security because they had Persian last names. Actually, they had Persian first names too. That made them late. And then they lost their Ronco plumb bob, which would have helped them determine what point on earth was directly beneath the star. What a hassle! They didn’t arrive until January 6. It was enough to make a magus give up in despair, but none of them did.
The shepherds felt honored to have been invited by the angel to visit the newborn Messiah, but after they arrived they remembered they had forgotten gifts. Being good Presbyterians they normally would have taken a covered dish, Shepherd’s Pie, but they were so excited they didn’t even think about it. Were they embarrassed! Plus, they had to bring their flocks with them to Bethlehem. They couldn’t leave them out in the fields else mattress companies would steal them for commercials about “counting sheep.” It was a hassle.
Mary was set to have her baby at Nazareth Community Hospital. She felt at home there. Joseph had been the contractor for the new Women’s Wing. Then he came home with the news that they had to go to Bethlehem to be registered. What a hassle! There were no direct flights, and room reservations were impossible. Then they got word that King Herod, a.k.a. The Terminator, was seeking to kill baby Jesus lest he grow up and be a threat. They had to take flight to Egypt to hide out.
All kidding aside, life was not hassle-free that first Christmas. If yours is not this Christmas, you’re in good company. Better yet, there is still hope. -DJ
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