Luke 2:1-20 ‘You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.’ I remember family and friends flocking to our house after both our children were born. It feels the natural response to come and meet the new child. The smiles across their faces as they met their nephew and niece, grandson and granddaughter, great grandson. I remember taking our children to church for the first time, aged just 8 days and 4 days respectively, and the joy of the church community at meeting them. It’s amazing how much joy a tiny human being can bring to so many people. Mary’s story that we hear today is quite remarkable. At such a young age, she has been so open to God’s blessing upon her life, and now she cradles in her arms, God, who has come to earth as a vulnerable baby to be with us all. I can’t quite imagine how it must have been for her; a first-time mother, just given birth, away from her hometown, and now beginning that journey of discovery of how to look after a new-born, when suddenly all these unknown shepherds descend upon her. They’ve heard those words of the angel: “Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” and hurried to meet him. So now Mary joined by strangers around the manger! But rather than closing the door, or letting in family only, she has such a generosity to heart to share this new-born child with all who come to visit. She allows them to share in her joy. She seems, at such a young age, to have grasped the generosity of God, not just for her, but for all people, and it is so wonderfully contagious.
2nd June – Luke 2 – Karen Colley
0:000:00
Karen Colley (Sheffield)
Sheffield
Verse 12 “You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger” Our reading today from Luke is one that Christians, and many non-Christians too, will know well. The birth narrative we hear every Christmas – Mary & Joseph giving birth to a baby, the Son of God, in a stable because there was no room at the inn. The gift of a child, any child is a wondrous experience, no matter what the status of the parents; a gift of love. It is also usually a messy and painful experience, but when the child is placed into your arms and you meet your son or daughters eyes for the first time, there is an overriding sense of love. I am told that becoming a parent totally changes your perspective on the world. Suddenly you would give anything, be anything and do anything to protect and love this tiny helpless human being. There is no barrier holding back your generosity, your love, or your commitment to care for and nurture your son or daughter and I’m sure Mary and Joseph felt the same. This attitude of total generosity and love that we so easily recognise in new parents and in the children themselves is also found in the words and actions of Jesus during his ministry. His lack of restraint in how he interacts with others, the love and generosity that he shows, is uncommon in an adult. Maybe that is why people were so drawn to him. For most of us, the innocence and freedom of childhood becomes hidden over time by walls that we build to protect ourselves from negative experience or simply because as adults we are taught that that is how we should be. But what if we lived in a world where those walls were torn down? What if we let that generosity flow? This may seem like a naïve idea, but we have only to look around at how many have responded to the lockdown to see that generosity and love in action and that it can be contagious (no pun intended!) Jesus was born in a stable to a poor couple, “You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger”. Jesus had little materially meaning he could live a life of generosity and of love that was an example any could learn from no matter their social standing or wealth. God gave his only son as gift to the world, an act of generosity that can never be equalled or repaid so that Jesus could pass on his father’s message of love to all. Maybe it is a gift so generous we can never repay, but it is one we can share. Amen