Don't You Wonder?

The Gospel Reading for the First Sunday of Advent:

24 "But in those days, after that suffering, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, 25 and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. 26 Then they will see "the Son of Man coming in clouds' with great power and glory. 27 Then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven. 28 "From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. 29 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. 30 Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. 32 "But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come. 34 It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. 35 Therefore, keep awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn, 36 or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. 37 And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake.”(Mark 13:24-37)

It has always been intriguing to me that all the readings, in the yearly lectionary for Advent, begin at the end of the assigned Gospel for that church year.  Instead of talking about preparing for the coming of the Christ Child, we are asked to talk about the end times. The time when Jesus will come again and take us to himself.  Instead of beginnings, we are talking about the endings. The ending of all we know on this physical earth.  

My entire being has resisted this yearly pattern.  

I resist it because it is the time of year to talk about Mary and Joseph, shepherds and angels.  How unbelievable the story is!  God actually alive in a physical body -- a tiny baby's body -- on earth!  

I want to explore the questions: It is really all true?  Did Mary really get pregnant by the Holy Spirit? And, the big one for me! What caused her just believe the angel?  She was only a teen ager!  

And, why did the child in Elizabeth’s tummy jump with joy when Mary came to see her?

And Joseph??  If we were really familiar with the ancient Jewish traditions; we would know that a young girl, promised to a young man, just did not get pregnant before the marriage was consummated. She would have been banned from acceptable society.  I know!  I Know!  The angel came to Joseph and explained the whole thing to him.  And yes! People in those times were use to angels, and visions, and God popping in and out of their lives.

But Really????

This precious story has been celebrated and worshiped for centuries.  With seemingly very few who question its validity.  We just believe it as true!  At least I do!  However the questions have always played around in my mind.

As a child, when the Christmas story was read, I would wonder:  “Would I have believed the Angel?”  Mary’s response was so unbelievably elegant!  So willing!  So honest!  So innocent!

We could all ask the question:  Is it all really true?

Then there is the wonder about why God would come to earth as a baby?  A helpless child?  Why not a soldier, or a president, or a giant?  Someone big and strong and powerful?  Someone people would pay attention to?  Maybe be afraid of!  After all the Messiah, the promised savior of the world, was suppose to come and to set everybody straight.  Was suppose to make people get along and be nice.

And yet!  The Messiah was a tiny child born in a barn!

What do you think the message is in that?