Christmas I, Midnight
Matthew 1:18–25
[Now is proclaimed the beginning of the entire Gospel, according to Matthew in the first chapter.]
The birth of Jesus Christ
took place in this way: Mary, his mother, was betrothed to Joseph. But before
they were aware of having come together, she conceived a child by the power of
the Holy Spirit. Joseph, however, her
husband, who was an upright man and did not want to expose her to public
disgrace, was considering whether he should quietly set her free [or, decided
to consider all this a mystery.] As he was pondering this, behold, the angel of
the Lord appeared before him in a dream and said to him, "Joseph, son of
David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife because that which is to be born of her is conceived out of
the power of the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall give him the
name Jesus, that is, the Bringer of Healing, for he it will be who will heal
his own of their error and guilt."
All this took place so that the word of the Lord, spoken by the mouth of the prophet, might be fulfilled:
"A virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and they will call his name Immanuel, that is, God in our midst."
Now when Joseph rose from his sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord directed him, and he took Mary to himself as his wife, and he knew her not until she bore her son, and he gave him the name Jesus.
Christmas I
Midnight, December 25, 2022
Matthew 1:17-25
A diamond in its natural state is dark and stained; it gives little clue of what lies in its depths. Not until it is cleaned, cut, and polished can the light within it begin to shine forth.
Jesus’ conception was shrouded in darkness, awkwardness, and mystery. Like a diamond in its natural state, the conception of the Christ Child causes consternation. Joseph is not sure what this unaccountable conception means. Has Mary’s jewel of innocence been stained? Or is there a greater mystery at work here, something precious that requires her to be handed back to the temple authorities for safekeeping?
Joseph ponders the awkwardness.
And in answer, the heavens open. Tones sound forth. A bright angel speaks to him, saying in effect: ‘Do not be afraid of this situation. All the darkness of this diamond mystery will be chipped away. All the awkwardness will ultimately be set to rights. Remember the paradox of the prophecy? A virgin brings God into our midst.” *
In night’s darkness, the star radiance of an angel pierces Joseph’s gloom. Joseph hears and listens. From night’s darkness, he rises up in understanding, ready to guard and protect the light-filled but as yet unmanifested jewel entrusted into his hands.
Adam Bittleston captures the angelic voice that speaks to us today from the Gospel, the good news from the realm of the angels:
 |
| Jan de Kok |
Darkness
of night
Stars
fill.
Silence
of night
Music
breaks.
Midnight
words
Promise
the coming
Humble,
hopeful
Of
man’s true healer.
Hear
well, O Man
Lift
up your heart
In
deep darkness
To heaven’s voices.*
Hearing, we rise; our understanding opens into the starlight, as into the night of the sense’s darkness there streams here, now, tonight, the healing light of the Spirit’s Grace. For Christ is conceived every year anew. He is conceived as the God in our midst. He shines in us like the starlight in the diamond.
*Isaiah 7:14
** “Advent,” by Adam Bittleston,
in A Window Into Worlds
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