The Profound Messiness of Christmas
By: Justin E. Moore
Tags: Bethlehem, Advent, Christmas, Catholic

Can you imagine the uncertainty, the anxiety, the pressure on Mary and Joseph? I mean, what would any of us do if an angel appeared and explained that we had been chosen as the mother and father to the Son of God — via virgin birth, no less? It was after living in that state of shock and confusion that Mary and Joseph had to leave their hometown of Nazareth just before Mary was to give birth. If you’ve ever been around a lady who is *literally* about to have a baby, you know any sort of travel is what we call “not ideal.” Thank goodness for that donkey.

Even so, such a journey would have been uncomfortable, difficult, and slow-going under the best of circumstances. When they arrived at Bethlehem, it is safe to assume that they arrived late. Bethlehem was full-up — there was no more room they could have for privacy or sanctuary. Instead, their only option was to lay their newborn son in a manger. The Gospels gloss over a remarkable number of birth-related details — the pain and uncertainties of childbirth, the rudimentary accommodations, the smell of livestock. Such a scene is unimaginable, downright repugnant, even, to many of our modern expectations.

As the story of the First Christmas played out in my mind, the many reflections I had previously ignored came back to me. In that seasonal jumble of wisdom and hot takes, I realized the Story of Christmas is one of profound messiness. The overwhelming humility of Jesus’ birth is one that, fittingly, does not get nearly enough attention in our modern consciousness. We are so focused on the joy and bustle of the season that the miracle of Christmas becomes obscured. The utter lowliness of the exterior appearance of the Nativity stands in stark contrast to the awesome mystery that took place there.

The truth is, that First Christmas was surrounded by a profound messiness that many of us are just not willing to embrace. Many of us don’t handle the traffic and the crowds well. Many of us fight with our spouses over decorations or packing. Many of us are ready to tear the Christmas tree down and send all the guests home because the food or the table setting is not picture perfect. The truth is, many of us despise messiness, and are unwilling to embrace it as a part of life. The truth is, many of us, myself included, continue to miss the invitation of Christmas, leaving no more room in our hearts for Jesus to rest.

Enter 2020.

The “new normal” feels awful and makes my problems from 2019 seem quaint. Life has become awkward and full of disappointments, while feeling messier than I could have imagined. In the past ten months, I have done my best. My wife did her best. Even the kids did their very best. Which is to say that we all waded through the mess together. And it was messy.

But, along the way, small miracles began to manifest themselves, soothing our tired souls. Small graces came in the form of impromptu video calls and drinks with friends. Supportive words from family and colleagues made our day. Focus fell away from some of the more superfluous aspects of life and we focused hard on loving each other and finding ways to make our home a little happier and a little holier each day. We have some new traditions and much more appreciation for what we do have — each other, our health, and our faith.

Everything about 2020, including Christmas has been and will continue to be different than any we’ve ever seen. This Christmas, there is no denying how much we will miss making memories together, cherished family traditions, and sadly, the people we’ve had to say goodbye to. It will be hard. But as a dear friend has reminded me recently, “We can do hard things.”

My friends, this year, after the initial confusion and the long, uncomfortable journey through 2020, we are being invited to join the Holy Family at Bethlehem in the profound messiness of Christmas.

As we pass Gaudete Sunday and Christmas Eve draws near, let us recommit ourselves to that which truly centers our lives — the child Jesus, who is our Emmanuel, God With Us. He is that thrill of hope our weary world now yearns deeply for. May that hope be found in turning our hearts to God and releasing the imperfections and disappointments of the present moment. May we have the courage to prepare enough room for him to dwell richly.

A Blessed Christmas to one and all.

Resources for families:

The Giving Manger — A faith-based children’s book + kit, encouraging acts of kindness and reflection on the meaning of Christmas.

The Advent of Christmas — the story of Christmas, authored by award-winning singer-songwriter, Matt Maher. Be sure the listen to his album of the same name.

The Star — Accompanied by a star-studded cast, Bo, the donkey, wants nothing more than to join the Royal Caravan. Little does he know, his journey to Bethlehem with Mary and Joseph turns out to be just that.